Compare towns

Fair Haven vs Exeter 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Exeter has the most people working from home (14.4%).
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.

MeasureFair HavenExeterCastleton
People
Population
2,724
913Lowest
4,453Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-14.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.2±7.6
about the U.S. average
51.7±12.6Highest
33% above U.S.
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
Exeter and Fair Haven 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%
22.7%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.8%±6.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Exeter 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%
26.9%±10.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Exeter 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
U.S.: 35.7%
28.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
37.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
1%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$62,404±$16kLowest
23% below U.S.
$77,550±$19kHighest
4% below U.S.
$73,854±$23k
9% below U.S.
Exeter 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
47% below U.S.
$243,000±$89kHighest
27% below U.S.
$224,800±$71k
32% below U.S.
Exeter and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$830±$116Lowest
41% below U.S.
$867±$44
39% below U.S.
$1,137±$195Highest
20% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,865Highest
24% above U.S.
$2,926Lowest
6% below U.S.
$3,167
about the U.S. average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.9%±20.9
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
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
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
97.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
29 min
9% above U.S.
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
Work from home
4.3%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.4%±10.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.2%±3.9
U.S.: 15.1%
Exeter and Castleton 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 — Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62
High school in town Fair Haven Union Middle and High School — None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.