Compare towns
Castleton vs Proctor vs Putnam 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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Proctor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 53.6).
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 | Proctor | Putnam | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,794 |
540Lowest |
2,724 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.4±6.4 9% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
39.2±7.6 about the U.S. average |
| Putnam and Proctor 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% |
21.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Proctor 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$74,167±$12k 8% below U.S. |
$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Proctor 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. |
$209,900±$17k 37% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48kHighest 20% below U.S. |
$176,500±$14kLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S. |
$1,029±$202 27% below U.S. |
— | $830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,032Highest 29% above U.S. |
$3,674 18% above U.S. |
$3,865 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Proctor and Putnam 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 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.