Compare towns
Middlesex vs Castleton vs Fairfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
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 | Middlesex | Castleton | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,943 |
4,453Highest |
1,938Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Highest 3% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
| Middlesex and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Castleton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
30.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
| Middlesex and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$320,600±$22k about the VT average |
| Middlesex and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,056±$441Lowest 14% below VT |
| Middlesex and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,816 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 17% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| 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.