Compare towns
Castleton vs Ira vs Fair Haven vs Northfield
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).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Northfield has the most people working from home (12.1%).
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 | Ira | Fair Haven | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
381Lowest |
2,724 |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Fair Haven 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% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
| Castleton and Ira 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 |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$274,400±$21kHighest 13% below VT |
| Northfield and Ira 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 |
$942±$52 24% below VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
| Castleton and Northfield 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 |
$4,146 18% below VT |
$3,865 23% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Northfield 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% |
14.4% VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1956 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Northfield and Castleton 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 | — | #66 of 70 in VT | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8Highest |
10.0Lowest |
| 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.