Compare towns
Fairlee vs Castleton vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
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 | Fairlee | Castleton | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,066Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
| Fairlee and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
| Calais and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,083±$242Lowest 12% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| Calais and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,617 11% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Fairlee 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.