Compare towns
Fair Haven vs Barre vs Castleton vs Benson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fair Haven has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
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 | Fair Haven | Barre | Castleton | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,724 |
8,412Highest |
4,453 |
784Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.2% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
42.2±6.6 about the VT average |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
| Benson and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 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+ | 18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
36.1% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$65,625±$7k 19% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
| Benson and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$210,400±$15k 34% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$242,000±$26kHighest 24% below VT |
| Benson and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
$1,093±$58 11% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
| Castleton and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,865 23% below VT |
$5,192Highest 3% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
17.3% VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1947 29 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 31% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Barre 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 | #66 of 70 in VT | #19 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | Spaulding Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.7Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.