Compare towns
Castleton vs Stratton vs Dover 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).
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
Dover has the most people working from home (23.2%).
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 | Stratton | Dover | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
532Lowest |
1,466 |
2,724 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
| Dover 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% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton 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% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover 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% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$62,404±$16k 23% below VT |
| Stratton 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 |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
| Stratton and Dover 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 |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$830±$116 33% below VT |
| Stratton 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 |
$4,750Highest 6% below VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$3,865 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Fair Haven 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% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | 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 | None yet | 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.