Compare towns
Castleton vs Mendon vs Moriah 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 youngest population (median age 38.3).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Moriah has the most affordable homes ($138k median).
Fair Haven has the most kids (19.4% under 18).
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 | Mendon | Moriah | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
1,113Lowest |
4,483Highest |
2,724 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
53.4±10.5 37% above U.S. |
56.7±3Highest 46% above U.S. |
39.2±7.6 about the U.S. average |
| Moriah and Mendon 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% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.8 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% |
29%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±6.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Moriah and Mendon 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% |
49.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$100,524±$23kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$63,113±$6k 22% below U.S. |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Mendon 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. |
$357,000±$44kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$138,200±$9kLowest 58% below U.S. |
$176,500±$14k 47% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,230±$651Highest 13% below U.S. |
$832±$165 41% below U.S. |
$830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Mendon and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167 about the U.S. average |
$5,342Highest 71% above U.S. |
$2,644Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$3,865 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±25.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon 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% |
8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1951 29 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 36% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mendon and Moriah 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 | — | #380 of 484 in NY | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | MORIAH CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | MORIAH JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.6Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| 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.