Compare towns
Castleton vs Fairlee vs Norton
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 most kids (18.8% under 18).
Fairlee has the most renters (42.5% rent).
Norton has the most homeowners (100%).
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 | Fairlee | Norton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
54Lowest |
108 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
63.5±7.6Highest 47% above VT |
53.8±6.7 25% above VT |
| Fairlee and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
0%±52.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13%±21.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
37%±54.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±15.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Norton 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% |
11.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
28.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
0%±26.2Lowest VT: 7% |
4.6%±10.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
$21,071±$13kLowest 74% below VT |
$65,625±$23k 19% below VT |
| Castleton and Norton 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 |
$277,500±$28kHighest 12% below VT |
$200,000±$32kLowest 37% below VT |
| Fairlee and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$1,057±$620Lowest 14% below VT |
— |
| Castleton and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167 37% below VT |
$3,750Highest 26% below VT |
$2,769Lowest 45% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
100%±55.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
— |
| Fairlee and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
50%Highest VT: 10.1% |
13% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
57.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
100%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1942Lowest 34 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
— | 39 minHighest 68% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.5%±30.4 VT: 16.9% |
25.5%±18Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Norton and Fairlee 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 | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.