What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).

Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bolton	Fair Haven
People
Population	1,163Lowest	2,724Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.1%Highest VT: +2.8%	+0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	36.3±1.7Lowest 16% below VT	39.2±7.6Highest 9% below VT
	Fair Haven and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.9%±4Lowest VT: 17.9%	19.4%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9%
	Fair Haven and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	6.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4%	18.4%±4.5Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	58.4%Highest VT: 43.8%	23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±1.8Lowest VT: 7%	4.1%±2.9Highest VT: 7%
	Fair Haven and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$111,125±$17kHighest 37% above VT	$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$311,600±$42kHighest about the VT average	$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,299±$273Highest 5% above VT	$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,826Highest 4% below VT	$3,865Lowest 23% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	28%±30.8Lowest VT: 48.4%	50.9%±20.9Highest VT: 48.4%
	Fair Haven and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.9%Lowest VT: 10.1%	18.9%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.6%Highest VT: 73.2%	80.6%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT	1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 17% above VT	31 minHighest 31% above VT
Work from home	22.9%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9%	4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#66 of 70 in VT
School district	Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401	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 Our Story	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.