Compare towns
Fair Haven vs Dover vs Proctor vs Castleton
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).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Proctor has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Dover | Proctor | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,724 |
1,466Lowest |
1,794 |
4,453Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
| Dover and Proctor 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% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Proctor and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Proctor 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% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,404±$16k 23% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$74,167±$12kHighest 9% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
| Proctor 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 |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$209,900±$17k 34% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
| Dover and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $830±$116 33% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
| Castleton and Proctor 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 |
$4,510Highest 10% below VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest 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% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.2% VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 31% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Proctor 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 | — | — | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 8.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.