Compare towns
Castleton vs Putney vs Walden 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
Putney has the most expensive homes ($300k median).
Walden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
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 | Putney | Walden | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
2,622 |
1,037Lowest |
2,724 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
48.8±3.2Highest 13% above VT |
39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
| Walden 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% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest 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%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Castleton and Walden 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% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.4% VT: 43.8% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Putney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
| Walden and Putney 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 |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
| Putney and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$900±$136 27% below VT |
$830±$116 33% below VT |
| Castleton and Walden 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 |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$3,944 22% below VT |
$3,865 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Walden 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% |
16% VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8%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 |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 17% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Walden and Putney 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | — | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None 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 Our Story | None yet | 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.