Compare towns
Fair Haven vs Epping vs Proctor vs Castleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Epping | Proctor | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,724 |
7,430Highest |
1,794Lowest |
4,453 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±7.6 about the U.S. average |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
42.4±6.4 9% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Epping 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$74,167±$12k 8% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $176,500±$14kLowest 47% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$209,900±$17k 37% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,029±$202 27% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
| Epping and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,865 24% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$4,032 29% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.3%±16.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #66 of 70 in VT | #77 of 120 in NH | — | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Epping School District | 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 | Epping High School | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
9.3 |
8.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.