Compare towns
Castleton vs Westford vs Putney 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
Westford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
Putney has the most renters (27.2% rent).
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 | Westford | Putney | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
2,290Lowest |
2,622 |
2,724 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
44.1±8.6Highest about the VT average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
| Westford 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%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest 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%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Castleton and Fair Haven 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% |
52.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
9.5%±4.6 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Putney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$112,750±$12kHighest 39% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$424,500±$21kHighest 34% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$830±$116 33% below VT |
| Westford 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 |
$6,282Highest 25% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$3,865 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Putney 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% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16% VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 17% below VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Westford and Putney 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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 | 6 photos → | 6 photos → | 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.