Compare towns
Castleton vs Wilder vs Fair Haven vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
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 | Wilder | Fair Haven | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
3,087 |
2,724Lowest |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Wilder 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% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7 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%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder 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% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9 VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$75,143±$9kHighest 7% below VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
| Wilder and Castleton 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 |
$273,200±$18k 14% below VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$274,400±$21kHighest 13% below VT |
| Northfield and Wilder 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 |
$1,142±$451Highest 7% below VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
| Wilder 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 |
$5,505Highest 9% above VT |
$3,865 23% below VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Northfield 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% |
9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1956 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 17% below VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Wilder and Northfield 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 | — | #66 of 70 in VT | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8Highest |
10.0Lowest |
| 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.