Compare towns

Fair Haven vs Fairfield vs Vernon

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).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Vernon has the shortest commute (20 min average).

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.

MeasureFair HavenFairfieldVernon
People
Population
2,724Highest
1,938Lowest
2,709
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.1%
VT: +2.8%
+8.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-0.6%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
39.2±7.6Lowest
9% below VT
42.3±2.7
about the VT average
42.6±5.4Highest
about the VT average
Vernon and Fairfield 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%
25.4%±5Highest
VT: 17.9%
15.1%±3.6Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Fairfield 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%
14.3%±1.8Lowest
VT: 21.4%
22.8%±2.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
Vernon and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
23.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
30.2%Highest
VT: 43.8%
26.6%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±2.9Highest
VT: 7%
3.5%±1.6
VT: 7%
3%±1.7Lowest
VT: 7%
Fair Haven and Fairfield 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 VT
$87,019±$22kHighest
7% above VT
$85,682±$9k
6% above VT
Fairfield and Vernon 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
$320,600±$22kHighest
about the VT average
$285,100±$25k
10% below VT
Fairfield and Vernon 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
$1,056±$441Highest
14% below VT
$1,023±$214
17% below VT
Fairfield and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,865Lowest
23% below VT
$4,816
4% below VT
$5,191Highest
3% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.9%±20.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
29.2%±20.4
VT: 48.4%
26.2%±3.7Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Fair Haven and Fairfield 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%
5.1%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
5.5%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.6%
VT: 73.2%
88.5%Highest
VT: 73.2%
76.2%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
1979
3 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
31% above VT
24 min
about the VT average
20 minLowest
14% below VT
Work from home
4.3%±2.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
7.8%±3Highest
VT: 16.9%
6.4%±3.1
VT: 16.9%
Fairfield and Vernon 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 — #30 of 70 in VT
School district Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 Vernon School District
High school in town Fair Haven Union Middle and High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8
— —
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.