Compare towns
Castleton vs Montpelier 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 youngest population (median age 38.3).
Montpelier has the most people working from home (26.9%).
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 | Montpelier | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453 |
8,014Highest |
2,724Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
42.3±2.4Highest about the VT average |
39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
| Montpelier 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% |
17.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Montpelier 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% |
66.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$81,030±$6kHighest about the VT average |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
| Montpelier 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 29% below VT |
$375,100±$21kHighest 18% above VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,302±$113Highest 6% above VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
| Montpelier 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 |
$6,936Highest 38% above VT |
$3,865 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±9.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Fair Haven 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% |
6.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
53.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1955 21 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 17% below VT |
18 minLowest 23% below VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
26.9%±5Highest VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #39 of 70 in VT | #9 of 70 in VT | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | Montpelier High School | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| 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.