Compare towns

Castleton vs Jackson 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).
Jackson has the most people working from home (11.1%).
Fair Haven has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).

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.

MeasureCastletonJacksonFair Haven
People
Population
4,453Highest
1,695Lowest
2,724
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
56.9±3.6Highest
46% above U.S.
39.2±7.6
about the U.S. average
Kids under 18
18.8%±6.4
U.S.: 22%
14.6%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
33.4%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.4%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
32.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
23.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.8%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.1%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,854±$23k
9% below U.S.
$77,375±$8kHighest
4% below U.S.
$62,404±$16kLowest
23% below U.S.
Jackson 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
32% below U.S.
$235,400±$40kHighest
29% below U.S.
$176,500±$14kLowest
47% below U.S.
Jackson and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,137±$195
20% below U.S.
$1,139±$43Highest
19% below U.S.
$830±$116Lowest
41% below U.S.
Jackson and Castleton 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
$4,165Highest
34% above U.S.
$3,865
24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.7%±21.9
U.S.: 51.1%
77.8%±44.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.9%±20.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Jackson and Castleton 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%
7.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
18.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
91.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Highest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
31 min
17% above U.S.
Work from home
6.2%±3.9
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
4.3%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Jackson 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
School district Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 — Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62
High school 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 History 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.