Compare towns
Castleton vs Union vs Warren vs Fair Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Warren has the oldest population (median age 42.2).
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 | Union | Warren | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
2,663Lowest |
4,932Highest |
2,724 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.6±5.3 7% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2Highest 8% above U.S. |
39.2±7.6 about the U.S. average |
| Warren and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Union 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$80,724±$9kHighest about the U.S. average |
$74,616±$21k 8% below U.S. |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Union and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42kHighest 20% below U.S. |
$232,700±$32k 30% below U.S. |
$176,500±$14kLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Union and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
$1,125±$456 20% below U.S. |
$830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Union and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167 about the U.S. average |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
$2,832Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$3,865Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.1%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±9.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Union and Warren 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 | — | #120 of 133 in ME | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | 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 History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
U.S. 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.