Compare towns
Fair Haven vs Hardwick vs Hampton 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%).
Hardwick has the most people working from home (11.8%).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
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 | Hardwick | Hampton | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,724 |
2,965 |
1,145Lowest |
4,453Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±7.6 about the U.S. average |
47.1±7.4Highest 21% above U.S. |
43.1±14.7 11% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Hardwick and Hampton 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% |
15.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.9%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 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% |
27%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
| Hardwick 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±$14k 47% below U.S. |
$184,700±$39k 44% below U.S. |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kHighest 32% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Hardwick 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. |
$875±$406 38% below U.S. |
$1,264±$375Highest 11% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
| Hampton 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. |
$4,351Highest 39% above U.S. |
$3,007Lowest 4% 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% |
48.6%±41.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1Lowest 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% |
9.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 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 10% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hardwick and Hampton 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 | #68 of 70 in VT | — | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | Hazen Union High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
8.6Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.