Compare towns
Fair Haven vs Franklin vs Swanton
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Franklin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Swanton has the shortest commute (21 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.
| Measure | Fair Haven | Franklin | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,724Highest |
1,590Lowest |
2,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.2±7.6Highest 9% below VT |
38.8±6.9 10% below VT |
37.8±4.7Lowest 12% below VT |
| Fair Haven and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6 VT: 17.9% |
24.3%±8.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Swanton and Franklin 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% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±2.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Swanton 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| 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 VT |
$79,917±$21kHighest about the VT average |
$66,607±$27k 18% below VT |
| Franklin and Swanton 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 |
$247,400±$66kHighest 22% below VT |
$229,000±$15k 28% below VT |
| Franklin and Swanton 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 |
$891±$266 28% below VT |
$1,238±$103Highest about the VT average |
| Swanton and Franklin 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 |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
$4,370Highest 13% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±20.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
36.1%±21.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
20.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
74.7% VT: 73.2% |
64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1952 24 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 31% above VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
21 minLowest 9% below VT |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.4%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — |
| High school in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | 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.