Compare towns
Castleton vs Underhill vs Barnard 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).
Underhill has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Underhill | Barnard | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
3,141 |
1,211Lowest |
2,724 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
38.1±11.4Lowest 12% below VT |
42.4±6Highest about the VT average |
39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
| Barnard 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%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill and Barnard 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% |
17.6%±6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Barnard 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% |
50.1% VT: 43.8% |
55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±2 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$92,267±$54k 14% above VT |
$97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
| Barnard and Underhill 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 |
$446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
$402,600±$71k 27% above VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
| Underhill and Barnard 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 |
— | $1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
| Barnard 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 |
$6,697Highest 33% above VT |
$6,038 20% above VT |
$3,865 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8 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% |
6.4% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.8% VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
29 min 21% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Underhill and Barnard 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 | #2 of 70 in VT | — | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | 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 Our Story | 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.