Compare towns
Fair Haven vs Lancaster vs Franklin
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%).
Lancaster has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Lancaster | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,724 |
10,113Highest |
1,590Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±7.6 about the U.S. average |
45.1±4.7Highest 16% above U.S. |
38.8±6.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Lancaster and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Franklin and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 U.S. |
$66,148±$7k 18% below U.S. |
$79,917±$21kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Franklin and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $176,500±$14kLowest 47% below U.S. |
$202,200±$16k 39% below U.S. |
$247,400±$66kHighest 26% below U.S. |
| Franklin and Lancaster 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. |
$969±$169Highest 31% below U.S. |
$891±$266 37% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Franklin 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. |
$4,932Highest 58% above U.S. |
$3,384Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±19Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±42.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Fair Haven 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% |
6.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 |
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.