Compare towns
Fair Haven vs Hancock vs Stratton vs Franklin
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 homeowners (80.6%).
Hancock has the most renters (40.5% rent).
Stratton has the most expensive homes ($400k median).
Franklin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
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 | Hancock | Stratton | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,724Highest |
435Lowest |
532 |
1,590 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | — | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.2±7.6Highest 9% below VT |
33.8±11.6 22% below VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
38.8±6.9 10% 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%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton 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% |
19.8%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Hancock 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% VT: 43.8% |
34.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest 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 |
$76,250±$34k 6% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$79,917±$21k about the VT average |
| Stratton and Franklin 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 |
$187,900±$11k 41% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$247,400±$66k 22% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
$939±$19 24% below VT |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
$891±$266 28% below VT |
| Stratton and Hancock 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 |
$3,511 30% below VT |
$4,750Highest 6% below VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±20.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.6% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
74.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 31% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
25 minLowest 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.5 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Franklin and Hancock 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 | — | — | 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 History | 12 photos → | 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.