Compare towns
Castleton vs Panton vs Fair Haven vs Benson
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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Panton has the most expensive homes ($438k median).
Fair Haven has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Benson has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
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 | Panton | Fair Haven | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
690Lowest |
2,724 |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-4.6% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
42.7±3.8 about the VT average |
39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
| Benson and Panton 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% |
24.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Panton 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% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Benson 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.1% VT: 43.8% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$86,667±$10kHighest 7% above VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
| Panton and Benson 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 |
$438,000±$40kHighest 38% above VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,410±$130Highest 14% above VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
| Panton 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 |
$6,695Highest 33% above VT |
$3,865 23% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
61%±39 VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Panton 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% |
3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
83.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±8.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Panton and Benson 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 | — | #66 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.