Compare towns

Castleton vs Putney vs Walpole 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

Putney has the most people working from home (16.9%).
Walpole has the oldest population (median age 46.5).
Fair Haven has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).

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.

MeasureCastletonPutneyWalpoleFair Haven
People
Population
4,453Highest
2,622Lowest
3,690
2,724
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.3±4.3
about the U.S. average
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
46.5±10.4Highest
20% above U.S.
39.2±7.6
about the U.S. average
Walpole 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
U.S.: 22%
15.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.2%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±5.1
U.S.: 22%
Walpole 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%
18.1%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.5%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.4%±4.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Walpole 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
48.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
32.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
23.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
19.3%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.1%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
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 U.S.
$79,706±$18k
about the U.S. average
$82,617±$16kHighest
about the U.S. average
$62,404±$16kLowest
23% below U.S.
Walpole 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
32% below U.S.
$300,000±$44k
10% below U.S.
$319,800±$48kHighest
4% below U.S.
$176,500±$14kLowest
47% below U.S.
Walpole and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,137±$195
20% below U.S.
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
$1,165±$150Highest
18% below U.S.
$830±$116
41% below U.S.
Walpole and Castleton 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
$5,313
70% above U.S.
$6,078Highest
95% above U.S.
$3,865
24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.2%±19.4
U.S.: 51.1%
51.6%±21.9
U.S.: 51.1%
50.9%±20.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Castleton and Putney 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%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
18.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
69.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1967
13 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 min
27% below U.S.
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
23 min
13% below U.S.
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
Work from home
6.2%±3.9
U.S.: 15.1%
16.9%±6.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.2%±4.9
U.S.: 15.1%
4.3%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Putney and Walpole 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 #27 of 120 in NH #66 of 70 in VT
School district Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Fall Mountain Regional School District 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

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.