Compare towns
Castleton vs Fairfield vs Poultney
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%).
Poultney has the most people working from home (11.3%).
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 | Poultney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,938Lowest |
3,010 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-12%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
42.3±2.7Highest about the VT average |
34±5.6Lowest 21% below VT |
| Fairfield and Castleton 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% |
17.8%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Castleton 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% |
22.8%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Poultney and Castleton 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
35.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
9.3%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$87,019±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
$72,617±$6kLowest 11% below VT |
| Fairfield and Castleton 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 |
$206,200±$18kLowest 35% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$1,056±$441 14% below VT |
$913±$84Lowest 26% 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 |
$3,520 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
88.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
29 minHighest 24% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Poultney and Fairfield 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 | — | #41 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Poultney High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.