Compare towns
Castleton vs Reading vs Ripton 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).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Reading | Ripton | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
699 |
508Lowest |
2,724 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
| Reading and Ripton 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest 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%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Reading 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% |
48%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% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Ripton 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 |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
| Ripton 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 |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
| Ripton and Reading 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 |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
— | $830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
| Castleton and Reading 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$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% |
52.9%±100 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Ripton 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | 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 History | 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.