Compare towns
Castleton vs Fairfield vs Pittsford vs Proctor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Pittsford has the oldest population (median age 47.7).
Proctor has the oldest housing (typical home built 1938).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Castleton | Fairfield | Pittsford | Proctor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,938 |
2,892 |
1,794Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.3% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
47.7±6.3Highest 11% above VT |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
| Pittsford and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.4%±6.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Pittsford and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
37% VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$87,019±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
$69,705±$7kLowest 14% below VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
| Fairfield and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$197,000±$33kLowest 38% below VT |
$209,900±$17k 34% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$1,056±$441 14% below VT |
$781±$167Lowest 37% below VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
| Castleton and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,816Highest 4% below VT |
$3,378 33% below VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
18.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.3% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3 VT: 16.9% |
10.1%±6.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Pittsford and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #54 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.