Compare towns
Castleton vs Jericho vs Benson 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
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Jericho has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Benson has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
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 | Jericho | Benson | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
5,114Highest |
784Lowest |
2,724 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
49.7±5.1 15% above VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
| Benson and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Jericho 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 VT: 21.4% |
20.2%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Benson 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% VT: 43.8% |
65.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$116,923±$16kHighest 44% above VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$493,100±$38kHighest 56% above VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,731±$111Highest 40% above VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$7,318Highest 45% above VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
$3,865 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
79.3%±52.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Jericho and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% VT: 10.1% |
0.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
21.8%±6.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jericho and Benson 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 | #6 of 70 in VT | — | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Mansfield Union High School | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.0Highest |
— | 12.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.