Compare towns
Fair Haven vs Pendleton vs Vernon 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).
Pendleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
Vernon has the most renters (23.8% rent).
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 | Pendleton | Vernon | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,724 |
7,034Highest |
2,709Lowest |
4,453 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±7.6 about the U.S. average |
46.7±4.1Highest 20% above U.S. |
42.6±5.4 10% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Pendleton and Vernon 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% |
21.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Pendleton 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% |
23%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.8%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pendleton and Vernon 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% |
34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$113,750±$27kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$85,682±$9k 6% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
| Pendleton and Vernon 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. |
$294,300±$39kHighest 12% below U.S. |
$285,100±$25k 14% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
| Pendleton and Vernon 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. |
$994±$119 30% below U.S. |
$1,023±$214 28% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Vernon 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. |
$6,623Highest 112% above U.S. |
$5,191 66% 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% |
6.6%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.2%±3.7 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% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±3.1 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 | #67 of 484 in NY | #30 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | STARPOINT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Vernon School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | STARPOINT HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
14.5Highest |
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| 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.