Compare towns
Castleton vs Sutton vs Plainfield 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).
Sutton has the most homeowners (85%).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (16.4%).
Fair Haven has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
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 | Sutton | Plainfield | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
790Lowest |
1,314 |
2,724 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
| Plainfield and Sutton 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% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest 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% |
21.6%±2.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Sutton and Plainfield 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% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
$71,250±$18k 12% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
| Castleton and Sutton 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 |
$231,100±$41k 27% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
— | $1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
| Plainfield 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 |
$3,975 21% below VT |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$3,865 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield 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% |
12.4% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1955 21 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Plainfield and Sutton 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | — | 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.