Compare towns
Fair Haven vs Hanover vs Castleton vs Benson
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).
Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Benson has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Castleton | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,724 |
11,685Highest |
4,453 |
784Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±7.6 about the U.S. average |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Benson 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% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Fair Haven and Castleton 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% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Benson 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% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $176,500±$14kLowest 47% below U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,865 24% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±20.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Hanover 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% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Benson 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Dresden School District · Hanover 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 | Hanover High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.7Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.