What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fair Haven has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).

Lenox has the most people working from home (8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Fair Haven	Lenox
People
Population	2,724Lowest	8,658Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.2±7.6Lowest about the U.S. average	45.1±2Highest 16% above U.S.
	Lenox 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%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.7%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Lenox 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 U.S.: 17.2%	21.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Lenox 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	21.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Fair Haven and Lenox 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.	$75,900±$8kHighest 6% below U.S.
	Lenox and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$176,500±$14kHighest 47% below U.S.	$161,600±$9kLowest 51% below U.S.
	Fair Haven and Lenox 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.	$935±$83Highest 34% below U.S.
	Lenox and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,865Lowest 24% above U.S.	$4,184Highest 34% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.9%±20.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	38.5%±9.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Fair Haven and Lenox 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%	10.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	77.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1955Highest 25 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.
Work from home	4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	8%±3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lenox and Fair Haven 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	#412 of 484 in NY
School district	Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62	ONEIDA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT · CANASTOTA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	Fair Haven Union Middle and High School	CANASTOTA HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Lowest	13.6Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.