Compare towns
Fair Haven vs West Haven vs Benson 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 most affordable homes ($177k median).
West Haven has the most homeowners (90.3%).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
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 | West Haven | Benson | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,724 |
234Lowest |
784 |
4,453Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
54±10.5Highest 25% above VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
| West Haven and Benson 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% |
17.5%±13.3 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest 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%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.9%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| West Haven and Benson 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 VT: 43.8% |
30.6% VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
0.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$85,250±$29kHighest 5% above VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
| West Haven and Benson 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 |
$245,000±$34kHighest 23% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
| West Haven and Benson 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 |
— | $1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
| Castleton and Benson 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 |
$4,485Highest 11% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Benson 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% |
10.3% VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% VT: 73.2% |
90.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 31% above VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10.4%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and West Haven 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 | 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 Our Story | None yet | 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.