Compare towns
Fair Haven vs Gorham vs Hampton vs Benson
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1938).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Benson has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
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 | Gorham | Hampton | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,724 |
18,300Highest |
1,145 |
784Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±7.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
43.1±14.7 11% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Benson and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.9%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Benson and Hampton 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% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Benson 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. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $176,500±$14k 47% below U.S. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,264±$375 11% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Hampton 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. |
$4,825Highest 55% above U.S. |
$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Fair Haven 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gorham and Benson 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 | #24 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Gorham Public Schools | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | Gorham High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
12.9Highest |
— | — |
| 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.