Compare towns
Fair Haven vs Wolfeboro vs Castleton vs Franklin
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Franklin has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
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 | Wolfeboro | Castleton | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,724 |
6,571Highest |
4,453 |
1,590Lowest |
| 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% |
-3% 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 |
38.8±6.9 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Franklin 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
45%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7%Lowest 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% |
7.5%±3.1 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. |
$79,917±$21k about the U.S. average |
| Wolfeboro and Franklin 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. |
$247,400±$66k 26% 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. |
$891±$266 37% 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 |
$3,384 8% above U.S. |
| 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% |
45.5%±42.2 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% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer 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. |
25 min 4% 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% |
18.1%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Franklin 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 | #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 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.