Compare towns
Benson vs Fair Haven vs Sandgate
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 expensive homes ($242k median).
Fair Haven has the youngest population (median age 39.2).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
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 | Sandgate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784 |
2,724Highest |
435Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
| Sandgate and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fair Haven and Benson 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% |
26%±11.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% VT: 43.8% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4Lowest 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 |
$69,167±$19k 15% below VT |
| Benson and Sandgate 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 |
$193,800±$31k 39% below VT |
| Benson and Sandgate 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 |
— |
| Benson and Fair Haven 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 |
$3,865 23% below VT |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1959 17 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
27 minLowest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Benson 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 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.