Compare towns
Fair Haven vs Benson vs Northfield vs Enosburgh
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Northfield has the most expensive homes ($274k median).
Enosburgh has the most kids (21% 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 | Fair Haven | Benson | Northfield | Enosburgh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,724 |
784Lowest |
5,920Highest |
2,804 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
40.6±3.9 6% below VT |
| Benson and Enosburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Enosburgh and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
17.9%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.7% VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
5.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$63,828±$17k 21% below VT |
| Benson and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$274,400±$21kHighest 13% below VT |
$223,100±$39k 30% below VT |
| Northfield and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
$1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
$852±$87 31% below VT |
| Benson and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,865 23% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$3,624Lowest 28% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
48.9%±11.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
13.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1956 20 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 31% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
27 minLowest 16% above VT |
32 minHighest 36% above VT |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
10.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Northfield 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 | — | #42 of 70 in VT | #26 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 |
| High school in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | Enosburg Falls Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 10.0Lowest |
10.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.