Compare towns
Fair Haven vs Williston vs Windham 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).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Windham has the most homeowners (82.9%).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
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 | Williston | Windham | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,724 |
10,144Highest |
594Lowest |
4,453 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
| Williston and Windham 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston 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 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Windham and Williston 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
| Williston and Windham 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
— | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,865 23% below VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 31% above VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Windham 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | — | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — | 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 |
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.