Compare towns
Castleton vs Johnson 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).
Johnson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
Fair Haven has the oldest population (median age 39.2).
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 | Johnson | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
3,450 |
2,724Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
30.9±6.5Lowest 28% below VT |
39.2±7.6Highest 9% below VT |
| Fair Haven and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Johnson and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
10.8%±3.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Castleton and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.2% VT: 43.8% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
14.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
$55,346±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
$62,404±$16k 23% below VT |
| Castleton and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kHighest 29% below VT |
$169,400±$62kLowest 46% below VT |
$176,500±$14k 44% below VT |
| Castleton and Fair Haven 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 |
$948±$45 23% below VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
| Castleton and Johnson 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 |
$3,310 34% below VT |
$3,865Highest 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
51.6%±20.8 VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Johnson 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% |
12.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
8.8%±4.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Johnson 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 | #57 of 70 in VT | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | 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 |
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.