Compare towns
Castleton vs Nanticoke vs Williston 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).
Nanticoke has the most kids (25.6% under 18).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Fair Haven has the most homeowners (80.6%).
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 | Nanticoke | Williston | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
1,683Lowest |
10,144Highest |
2,724 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.5±6.4 7% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
39.2±7.6 about the U.S. average |
| Williston and Nanticoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.6%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Nanticoke and Williston 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% |
22.6%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nanticoke and Williston 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% |
15.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$69,432±$13k 14% below U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Williston 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. |
$157,100±$32kLowest 53% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$176,500±$14k 47% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$941±$314 33% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,171 about the U.S. average |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$3,865 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±37.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Nanticoke 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% |
14.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
77% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
5%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #11 of 70 in VT | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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 | 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.