Compare towns
Castleton vs Reading vs Middlebury 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
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Middlebury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Middlebury is a college town. 40.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Reading | Middlebury | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
699Lowest |
7,220Highest |
2,724 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+10.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
23.7±1.3Lowest 45% below VT |
39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
| Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±1.7Lowest 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%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Reading 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% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
61.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
40.9%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$86,250±$18kHighest 6% above VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
| Middlebury and Reading 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 |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$417,400±$31kHighest 32% above VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
| Middlebury and Reading 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 |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,201±$120Highest about the VT average |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
| Middlebury 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 |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$6,795Highest 35% above VT |
$3,865 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
56.6%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Reading 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% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.2% VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
56.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 17% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
15 minLowest 38% below VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Middlebury 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 | — | #17 of 70 in VT | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school 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 History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 12 photos → |
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.