Compare towns

Fair Haven vs Wolfeboro vs Castleton

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).
Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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.

MeasureFair HavenWolfeboroCastleton
People
Population
2,724Lowest
6,571Highest
4,453
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.2±7.6
about the U.S. average
57±1.8Highest
47% above U.S.
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
Kids under 18
19.4%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.7%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.8%±6.4
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
34.6%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
23.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
45%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$62,404±$16kLowest
23% below U.S.
$94,375±$22kHighest
17% above U.S.
$73,854±$23k
9% below U.S.
Wolfeboro 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.
$546,500±$60kHighest
64% above U.S.
$224,800±$71k
32% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$830±$116Lowest
41% below U.S.
$1,103±$76
22% below U.S.
$1,137±$195Highest
20% below U.S.
Castleton and Wolfeboro 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.
$4,531Highest
45% above U.S.
$3,167Lowest
about the U.S. average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.9%±20.9
U.S.: 51.1%
12%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
67.7%±21.9Highest
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%
8.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
79%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
24 min
10% below U.S.
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
Work from home
4.3%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.9%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.2%±3.9
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #66 of 70 in VT #46 of 120 in NH #39 of 70 in VT
School district Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Governor Wentworth Regional School District Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62
High school in town Fair Haven Union Middle and High School Kingswood Regional High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
11.1Lowest
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.