Compare towns
Castleton vs Middlebury vs Strafford 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
Middlebury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Middlebury is a college town. 40.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Middlebury | Strafford | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
7,220Highest |
1,372Lowest |
2,724 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
23.7±1.3Lowest 45% below VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
| Strafford and Fair Haven 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% |
8.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford 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% |
19.8%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Strafford 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% |
61.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
40.9%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$86,250±$18k 6% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
| Strafford and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$417,400±$31k 32% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
| Strafford and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,201±$120Highest about the VT average |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
| Middlebury and Castleton 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 |
$6,795 35% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$3,865 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
56.6%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Middlebury 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% |
15.2% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
56.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 17% below VT |
15 minLowest 38% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlebury and Strafford 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 | #17 of 70 in VT | — | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Strafford 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 | 6 photos → | 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.