Compare towns
Fair Haven vs Hampton vs Reading 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 youngest population (median age 39.2).
Hampton has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
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 | Hampton | Reading | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,724Highest |
1,145 |
699Lowest |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest 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. |
51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Benson and Reading 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%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Fair Haven and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading 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%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% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest 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. |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Reading and Benson 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. |
$377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,264±$375Highest 11% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Benson 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. |
$5,754Highest 84% 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% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Benson 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% |
8.4% 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% |
84.9%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. |
1969 11 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 |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading 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 | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | 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.