Compare towns
Castleton vs Gray vs Gorham vs Fair Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Gray has the oldest population (median age 43.4).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k 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 | Gray | Gorham | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
8,429 |
18,300Highest |
2,724Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.4±4.5Highest 12% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
39.2±7.6 about the U.S. average |
| Gray and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Castleton and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$95,236±$8k 18% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$363,700±$20k 9% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$176,500±$14kLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,683 18% above U.S. |
$4,825Highest 55% above U.S. |
$3,865 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gorham and Gray 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 | #10 of 133 in ME | #24 of 133 in ME | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Gorham Public Schools | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | Gorham High School | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.5Lowest |
12.9Highest |
12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
U.S. 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.