Compare towns
Castleton vs Fairfield vs Stratton vs Hyde Park
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 the most homeowners (88.5%).
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
Hyde Park has the most affordable homes ($198k median).
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 | Stratton | Hyde Park |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,938 |
532Lowest |
3,000 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
42.3±2.7Highest about the VT average |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
41.6±3.9 3% below VT |
| Fairfield and Hyde Park are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
20%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
18.7%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Castleton and Hyde Park 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% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$84,375±$9k 4% above VT |
| Stratton and Fairfield 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±$22k about the VT average |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$198,400±$39kLowest 37% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,056±$441 14% below VT |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
$1,007±$340Lowest 18% below VT |
| Stratton and Castleton 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 |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$3,883 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.8%±14.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Hyde Park 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% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
88.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Hyde Park 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 | — | — | #59 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | — | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058B · Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Lamoille Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.