Compare towns
Castleton vs Keene vs Putney 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
Keene has the most renters (44.9% rent).
Putney has the most expensive homes ($300k median).
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.
| Measure | Castleton | Keene | Putney | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
22,939Highest |
2,622Lowest |
2,724 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
37.6±2.3 3% below U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
39.2±7.6Highest about the U.S. average |
| 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%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 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%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Castleton and Keene 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% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 U.S. |
$78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the U.S. average |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Putney and Keene 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. |
$252,500±$12k 24% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44kHighest 10% below U.S. |
$176,500±$14kLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Putney and Keene 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. |
$1,342±$68Highest 5% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$830±$116 41% below U.S. |
| Keene 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 |
$6,812Highest 118% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$3,865 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
18 min 32% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Putney and Keene 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #32 of 70 in VT | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Keene School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | Keene High School | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.