Compare towns
Fair Haven vs Exeter vs Franklin vs Proctor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 51.7).
Franklin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
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 | Fair Haven | Exeter | Franklin | Proctor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,724Highest |
913Lowest |
1,590 |
1,794 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±7.6 about the U.S. average |
51.7±12.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
38.8±6.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.4±6.4 9% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±7.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Franklin and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±10.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Franklin 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 | $62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$77,550±$19k 4% below U.S. |
$79,917±$21kHighest about the U.S. average |
$74,167±$12k 8% below U.S. |
| Franklin and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $176,500±$14kLowest 47% below U.S. |
$243,000±$89k 27% below U.S. |
$247,400±$66kHighest 26% below U.S. |
$209,900±$17k 37% below U.S. |
| Franklin and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$867±$44 39% below U.S. |
$891±$266 37% below U.S. |
$1,029±$202Highest 27% below U.S. |
| Proctor and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,865 24% above U.S. |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$3,384 8% above U.S. |
$4,032Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±20.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±42.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fair Haven and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Franklin and Exeter 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 | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | — | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | — | 8.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.