Compare towns
Fair Haven vs Sheffield 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 oldest population (median age 39.2).
Sheffield has the most kids (34.7% under 18).
Castleton has the most expensive homes ($225k 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 | Sheffield | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,724 |
190Lowest |
4,453Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.2±7.6Highest 9% below VT |
32.5±2.3Lowest 25% below VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
| Fair Haven and Castleton 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% |
34.7%±13.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheffield and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
13.2%±14Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Castleton and Fair 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% VT: 43.8% |
16.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.1%±5.8Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$65,795±$12k 19% below VT |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
| Castleton and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $176,500±$14k 44% below VT |
$122,700±$70kLowest 61% below VT |
$224,800±$71kHighest 29% below VT |
| Castleton and Fair Haven 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 |
$1,219±$563Highest about the VT average |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
| Sheffield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,865Highest 23% below VT |
$1,714Lowest 66% below VT |
$3,167 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| 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 VT: 10.1% |
8.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% VT: 73.2% |
85.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 31% above VT |
21 min 12% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
8.6%±6.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Sheffield and Castleton 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 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.