Compare towns
Fair Haven vs Jay vs Worcester vs Hampton
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 most kids (19.4% under 18).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Worcester has the most expensive homes ($271k median).
Hampton has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Jay | Worcester | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,724Highest |
471Lowest |
831 |
1,145 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±7.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
43.1±14.7 11% above U.S. |
| Jay and Worcester 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% |
14.2%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.9%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Fair Haven and Hampton 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Worcester 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% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester 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. |
$74,792±$25kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
| Jay and Worcester 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. |
$234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
$271,100±$27kHighest 19% below U.S. |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
| Worcester and Jay 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. |
— | $1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$1,264±$375Highest 11% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Worcester 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. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$4,421Highest 42% above U.S. |
$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±20.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fair Haven and Jay 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% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Worcester 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| 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.