Compare towns
Fair Haven vs Lee 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).
Lee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Benson has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
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 | Lee | Castleton | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,724 |
4,576Highest |
4,453 |
784Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%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 |
42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Benson and Lee 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% |
21.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lee 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% |
22.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Benson and Lee 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% |
50.6%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% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$131,579±$54kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Lee and Benson 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. |
$480,600±$61kHighest 44% 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. |
— | $1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Benson 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. |
$9,661Highest 210% 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%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Benson 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% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer 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. |
28 min 4% above 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% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Oyster River Coop 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 | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 10 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.