Compare towns

Fair Haven vs Jackson 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).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).

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 HavenJacksonCastleton
People
Population
2,724
897Lowest
4,453Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+26%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.2±7.6
about the U.S. average
60.5±2.5Highest
56% above U.S.
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
Kids under 18
19.4%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
4.1%±4.1Lowest
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%
28.4%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Jackson 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%
67.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$62,404±$16kLowest
23% below U.S.
$117,986±$46kHighest
46% above U.S.
$73,854±$23k
9% below U.S.
Jackson 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.
$719,300±$109kHighest
116% above U.S.
$224,800±$71k
32% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$830±$116Lowest
41% below U.S.
$1,750±$1kHighest
24% above U.S.
$1,137±$195
20% below U.S.
Jackson 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.
$6,001Highest
92% 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%
21.1%±59.9Lowest
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%
16.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
91.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
19 minLowest
30% below U.S.
19 min
27% below U.S.
Work from home
4.3%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.2%±10.2Highest
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 — #39 of 70 in VT
School district Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Jackson School District Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62
High school in town Fair Haven Union Middle and High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8
— —
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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.