Compare towns
Castleton vs Williston vs Brookfield 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 youngest population (median age 38.3).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Williston | Brookfield | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
10,144Highest |
1,486Lowest |
2,724 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
47±5.9Highest 9% above VT |
39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
| Brookfield and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston 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% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Williston 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.3% VT: 43.8% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$98,500±$23k 21% above VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
| Williston and Brookfield 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$339,300±$15k 7% above VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$975±$306 21% below VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
$3,865 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | — | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | 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 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.