Compare towns
Castleton vs Springfield vs Weathersfield 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).
Springfield has the most renters (32.3% rent).
Weathersfield has the most people working from home (26.2%).
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 | Springfield | Weathersfield | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
9,084Highest |
2,856 |
2,724Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
+0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
48.3±5.4Highest 12% above VT |
39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
| Weathersfield and Springfield 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% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Weathersfield 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% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
25.4%±5.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Weathersfield and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.2% VT: 43.8% |
23.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
8.8%±3.8 VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
$83,095±$12kHighest about the VT average |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
| Weathersfield 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 |
$192,400±$20k 39% below VT |
$252,700±$50kHighest 20% below VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
| Weathersfield and Castleton 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 |
$963±$100 22% below VT |
$1,401±$61Highest 14% above VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,807Highest 5% below VT |
$4,540 10% below VT |
$3,865 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
80.3%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Weathersfield and Castleton 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% |
14.8% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1958 18 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
22 min 8% below VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
26.2%±14.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Weathersfield and Springfield 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 | #64 of 70 in VT | #21 of 70 in VT | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Weathersfield School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield High School | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3Highest |
— | 12.8Lowest |
| 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.