Compare towns

Fair Haven vs Gray 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).
Gray has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
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 HavenGrayCastleton
People
Population
2,724Lowest
8,429Highest
4,453
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.2±7.6
about the U.S. average
43.4±4.5Highest
12% above U.S.
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
Gray 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%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
19%±4
U.S.: 22%
18.8%±6.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Fair Haven and Gray 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%
19.3%±4
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Castleton and Gray 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%
44.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$62,404±$16kLowest
23% below U.S.
$95,236±$8kHighest
18% above U.S.
$73,854±$23k
9% below U.S.
Gray 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.
$363,700±$20kHighest
9% above U.S.
$224,800±$71k
32% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$830±$116Lowest
41% below U.S.
$1,371±$89Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,137±$195
20% below U.S.
Gray and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,865Highest
24% above U.S.
$3,683
18% above U.S.
$3,167Lowest
about the U.S. average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.9%±20.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±24
U.S.: 51.1%
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Castleton and Gray 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%
3.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
29 min
8% above U.S.
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
Work from home
4.3%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.3%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.2%±3.9
U.S.: 15.1%
Gray 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 #10 of 133 in ME #39 of 70 in VT
School district Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62
High school in town Fair Haven Union Middle and High School Gray-New Gloucester High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
12.5Lowest
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 6 photos → 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.