Compare towns
Fair Haven vs Middlesex vs Tunbridge vs Castleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Tunbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
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 | Middlesex | Tunbridge | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,724 |
1,943 |
1,253Lowest |
4,453Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
44.4±3.9Highest 3% above VT |
42.7±8.3 about the VT average |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
| Middlesex and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.1%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
20.9%±1.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Tunbridge 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 VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
42.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.6%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$89,464±$26k 10% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
| Middlesex and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$315,300±$23k about the VT average |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
| Middlesex and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,346±$128Highest 9% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
| Tunbridge and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,865 23% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,645 8% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
76.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Tunbridge 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 VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4% VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.2% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 31% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
25.8%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Tunbridge 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | First Branch Unified School District #82 | 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 → | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.