Compare towns
Castleton vs Jay vs Nanticoke 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).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Nanticoke has the most kids (25.6% under 18).
Fair Haven has the oldest housing (typical home built 1938).
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 | Jay | Nanticoke | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
471Lowest |
1,683 |
2,724 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
41.5±6.4 7% above U.S. |
39.2±7.6 about the U.S. average |
| Jay and Nanticoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.6%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Nanticoke and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nanticoke and Castleton 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% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±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. |
$74,792±$25kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$69,432±$13k 14% below U.S. |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Jay 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. |
$234,200±$45kHighest 30% below U.S. |
$157,100±$32kLowest 53% below U.S. |
$176,500±$14k 47% below U.S. |
| Jay 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 20% below U.S. |
— | $941±$314 33% below U.S. |
$830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Nanticoke 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 |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,171 about the U.S. average |
$3,865Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±37.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Nanticoke 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% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — | 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 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.