Compare towns
Benson vs Fair Haven vs Proctor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Proctor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
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 | Benson | Fair Haven | Proctor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Lowest |
2,724Highest |
1,794 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below VT |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
| Benson and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Proctor and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
| Benson and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26kHighest 24% below VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$209,900±$17k 34% below VT |
| Benson and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
| Benson and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125Highest 18% below VT |
$3,865Lowest 23% below VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
16.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Proctor 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 | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | Proctor Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
8.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.