Compare towns

Fair Haven vs Barre vs Castleton vs Enosburgh

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 the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
Castleton has the highest household income ($74k).
Enosburgh has the most kids (21% under 18).

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.

MeasureFair HavenBarreCastletonEnosburgh
People
Population
2,724Lowest
8,412Highest
4,453
2,804
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-6.2%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-5.5%
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
39.2±7.6
9% below VT
42.2±6.6Highest
about the VT average
38.3±4.3Lowest
11% below VT
40.6±3.9
6% below VT
Barre and Enosburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.4%±5.1
VT: 17.9%
13.5%±3.8Lowest
VT: 17.9%
18.8%±6.4
VT: 17.9%
21%±4.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
Enosburgh and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.4%±4.5
VT: 21.4%
19.4%±3.9
VT: 21.4%
20.7%±4.6Highest
VT: 21.4%
17.9%±3.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Castleton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
23.7%
VT: 43.8%
36.1%
VT: 43.8%
37.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
20.1%Lowest
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%
5.4%±2.4
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$62,404±$16kLowest
23% below VT
$65,625±$7k
19% below VT
$73,854±$23kHighest
9% below VT
$63,828±$17k
21% below VT
Castleton and Barre 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±$71kHighest
29% below VT
$223,100±$39k
30% below VT
Castleton and Enosburgh 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
$852±$87
31% below VT
Castleton and Barre 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
$3,624
28% 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%
48.9%±11.2
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
18.9%Highest
VT: 10.1%
17.3%
VT: 10.1%
12.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
13.9%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.6%Highest
VT: 73.2%
50.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
79%
VT: 73.2%
75.7%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1947
29 yrs older than VT
1974Highest
2 yrs older than VT
1972
4 yrs 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
36% above VT
Work from home
4.3%±2.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
10.5%±4.1Highest
VT: 16.9%
6.2%±3.9
VT: 16.9%
10.1%±4.4
VT: 16.9%
Barre and Enosburgh 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 #26 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 Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88
High school in town Fair Haven Union Middle and High School Spaulding Union High School None in town Enosburg Falls Middle/High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
10.7
—
10.4Lowest
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.