Compare towns
Castleton vs Vernon vs Proctor 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).
Vernon has the most expensive homes ($285k median).
Proctor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
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 | Vernon | Proctor | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
2,709 |
1,794Lowest |
2,724 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
42.6±5.4Highest about the VT average |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
| Vernon and Proctor 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% |
15.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Proctor 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% |
22.8%±2.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Vernon and Proctor 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 VT: 43.8% |
26.6% VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$85,682±$9kHighest 6% above VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
| Vernon and Proctor 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 |
$285,100±$25kHighest 10% below VT |
$209,900±$17k 34% below VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
| Vernon and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$1,023±$214 17% below VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
| Castleton and Proctor 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 |
$5,191Highest 3% above VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$3,865 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 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% |
5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.2% VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%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 |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Proctor and Vernon 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 | #30 of 70 in VT | — | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Vernon School District | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| 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.