Compare towns
Fair Haven vs Ira vs Middlesex
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 affordable homes ($177k median).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Ira | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,724Highest |
381Lowest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex 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 |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
$942±$52 24% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
| Middlesex and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,865Lowest 23% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±20.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fair Haven and Ira 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% |
14.4% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 31% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.5 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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.