Compare towns
Castleton vs Ira vs Putney vs Fair Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Putney has the most people working from home (16.9%).
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 | Ira | Putney | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
381Lowest |
2,622 |
2,724 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1Highest 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Putney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
| Putney 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 |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
| Putney 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 |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$830±$116 33% below VT |
| Castleton and Ira 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 |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$3,865 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Putney 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% |
16% VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 17% below VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #32 of 70 in VT | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.8 |
| 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.