Compare towns
Castleton vs Randolph vs Swanton 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
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Randolph has the most people working from home (12.9%).
Swanton has the most kids (24.3% under 18).
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 | Randolph | Swanton | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
4,843Highest |
2,670Lowest |
2,724 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-2.4% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
40.4±7.4Highest 6% below VT |
37.8±4.7Lowest 12% below VT |
39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
| Randolph 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% |
17.3%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24.3%±8.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Swanton 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% |
22.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Randolph 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% VT: 43.8% |
40.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
23.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$76,758±$6kHighest 5% below VT |
$66,607±$27k 18% below VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
| Randolph 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 29% below VT |
$278,700±$38kHighest 12% below VT |
$229,000±$15k 28% below VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
| Randolph and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,172±$173 5% below VT |
$1,238±$103Highest about the VT average |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
| Swanton and Randolph 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 |
$4,698Highest 7% below VT |
$4,370 13% below VT |
$3,865 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
36.1%±21.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Randolph 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% |
7.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
20.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
18.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
67.2% VT: 73.2% |
64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1952 24 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
21 min 12% below VT |
21 min 9% below VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.4%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Randolph and Swanton 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 | #55 of 70 in VT | — | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | Randolph Union High School | — | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.4Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| 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.