Compare towns
Fairlee vs Castleton vs Monkton vs Bradford
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).
Monkton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Bradford has the most kids (20.1% 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 | Fairlee | Castleton | Monkton | Bradford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,066Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,999 |
2,827 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
47.1±5.4 9% above VT |
42.7±3.1 about the VT average |
| Fairlee and Monkton 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% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
20.1%±5.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Bradford 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%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
20.2%±2.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±5.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
50%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
0.7%±1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$119,688±$28kHighest 47% above VT |
$108,162±$15k 33% above VT |
| Monkton and Bradford 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 |
$379,900±$18kHighest 20% above VT |
$258,600±$30k 18% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,083±$242Lowest 12% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,301±$120Highest 5% above VT |
$1,221±$808 about the VT average |
| Monkton and Bradford 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 |
$5,887Highest 17% above VT |
$4,472 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±64 VT: 48.4% |
27.9%±23.4Lowest 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% |
4.2% VT: 10.1% |
2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
29 minHighest 24% above VT |
25 min 4% above VT |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±4.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Monkton 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 | — | #45 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Oxbow Unified Union School District #91 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Oxbow Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.