Compare towns
Fair Haven vs Putney vs Highgate 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Putney has the most people working from home (16.9%).
Highgate has the oldest population (median age 44).
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 | Putney | Highgate | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,724 |
2,622Lowest |
3,528 |
4,453Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
| Highgate 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 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate 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% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
| Putney and Castleton 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 VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
| Highgate and Putney 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 |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
| Putney and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $830±$116 33% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
| Castleton and Highgate 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 |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Putney 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% |
16% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 31% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Putney and Highgate 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #43 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 9.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.