Compare towns

Fair Haven vs Hampton vs Newfane 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Benson has the highest household income ($79k).

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 HavenHamptonNewfaneBenson
People
Population
2,724Highest
1,145
1,456
784Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-8.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
-7.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.2±7.6Lowest
about the U.S. average
43.1±14.7
11% above U.S.
54.4±3.9Highest
40% above U.S.
51.9±9.4
33% above U.S.
Newfane and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.4%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.9%±6.9
U.S.: 22%
11.1%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
16.5%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
Fair Haven and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.4%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
29.2%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.9%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Newfane and Benson 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%
15.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
32.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±3.1
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
7%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Benson 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.
$73,796±$8k
9% below U.S.
$66,719±$21k
17% below U.S.
$78,625±$8kHighest
about the U.S. average
Benson and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$176,500±$14k
47% below U.S.
$166,800±$10kLowest
50% below U.S.
$284,200±$49kHighest
15% below U.S.
$242,000±$26k
27% below U.S.
Newfane and Benson 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.
$1,264±$375
11% below U.S.
$1,266±$238Highest
10% below U.S.
$1,113±$170
21% below U.S.
Newfane 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.
$3,007Lowest
4% below U.S.
$5,174Highest
66% above U.S.
$4,125
32% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.9%±20.9
U.S.: 51.1%
13.2%±25.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.9%±79.7
U.S.: 51.1%
53.4%±35.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Benson and Newfane 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%
16.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
10.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
78.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
17% above U.S.
27 minLowest
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%
7.8%±8.4
U.S.: 15.1%
30.8%±12.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.6%±5.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Newfane 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 — — —
School district Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 — West River Valley Union Education District #72A Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62
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 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.