Compare towns
Fair Haven vs Rowe vs Castleton vs West Haven
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).
Rowe has the most kids (23% under 18).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
West Haven has the most people working from home (10.4%).
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 | Rowe | Castleton | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,724 |
453 |
4,453Highest |
234Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.2±7.6 about the U.S. average |
48.9±6.4 26% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
54±10.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
| West Haven and Rowe 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% |
23%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±13.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Rowe 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% |
30.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.9%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rowe and West Haven 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% |
26.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$69,583±$13k 14% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$85,250±$29kHighest 6% above U.S. |
| West Haven 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±$14kLowest 47% below U.S. |
$275,000±$41kHighest 17% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$245,000±$34k 26% below U.S. |
| Rowe and West Haven 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. |
$1,313±$576Highest 7% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
— |
| Rowe and Castleton 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. |
$1,458Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$3,167 about the U.S. average |
$4,485Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.8%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
15.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.4%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| West Haven and Rowe 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 | Rowe | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| 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.