Compare towns
Fair Haven vs Mendon vs Castleton vs Hampton
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 kids (19.4% under 18).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
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 | Mendon | Castleton | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,724 |
1,113Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,145 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±7.6 about the U.S. average |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.1±14.7 11% above U.S. |
| Mendon 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% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.9%±6.9 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% |
29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$100,524±$23kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
| Mendon 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. |
$357,000±$44kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,230±$651 13% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,264±$375Highest 11% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Mendon 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. |
$5,342Highest 71% above U.S. |
$3,167 about the U.S. average |
$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Castleton 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% |
8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mendon 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| 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 | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — | — |
| 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.