Compare towns
Castleton vs Strafford vs West Fairlee
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 youngest population (median age 38.3).
Strafford has the most people working from home (16.1%).
West Fairlee has the most homeowners (91.9%).
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 | Strafford | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,372 |
711Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
50.3±7.6 17% above VT |
| Strafford and West Fairlee 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% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| West Fairlee and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
44.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$76,500±$16k 6% below VT |
| Strafford and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$237,200±$35k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,113±$171Lowest 10% below VT |
| Castleton and Strafford 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$5,210 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
91.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Strafford School District | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.