Compare towns
Fair Haven vs Plainfield vs Castleton vs Vernon
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).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (11.5%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Vernon has the most expensive homes ($285k 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 | Plainfield | Castleton | Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,724 |
1,016Lowest |
4,453Highest |
2,709 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±7.6 about the U.S. average |
34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
42.6±5.4Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Vernon and Fair Haven 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% |
15.6%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±3.6Lowest 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%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Vernon 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% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.9%±11.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Castleton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$70,673±$6k 12% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$85,682±$9kHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Vernon 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. |
$155,100±$17kLowest 53% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$285,100±$25kHighest 14% below U.S. |
| Vernon and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $830±$116 41% below U.S. |
$750±$207Lowest 47% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S. |
$1,023±$214 28% 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. |
$2,667Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$3,167 about the U.S. average |
$5,191Highest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.6%±43.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.2%±3.7Lowest 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% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.2%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. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Vernon 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 | #30 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Vernon School District |
| 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 |
— | — | — |
| 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.