Compare towns
Castleton vs Wallingford vs Fairfield
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).
Wallingford has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
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 | Wallingford | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
2,286 |
1,938Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.4% VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
45.9±10.8Highest 6% above VT |
42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
| Wallingford and Fairfield 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% |
18.7%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield 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% |
23.9%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Wallingford 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 VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
30.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$80,230±$15k about the VT average |
$87,019±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
| Fairfield and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$261,900±$44k 17% below VT |
$320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
| Fairfield and Wallingford 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 |
$891±$95Lowest 28% below VT |
$1,056±$441 14% below VT |
| Castleton and Fairfield 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 |
$4,355 14% below VT |
$4,816Highest 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
14.3%±13.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.5% VT: 73.2% |
88.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Fairfield and Wallingford 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 | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.