Compare towns

Fair Haven vs Lowell vs Hampton 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 the oldest housing (typical home built 1938).
Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 43.1).
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.

MeasureFair HavenLowellHamptonFranklin
People
Population
2,724Highest
1,070Lowest
1,145
1,590
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-8.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.2±7.6
about the U.S. average
32.9±6.5Lowest
15% below U.S.
43.1±14.7Highest
11% above U.S.
38.8±6.9
about the U.S. average
Hampton 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%
30.7%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.9%±6.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.5%±5.6
U.S.: 22%
Lowell 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
U.S.: 17.2%
12.3%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.3%±1.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Hampton 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%
19.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
15.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
21.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±3.1
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±$16k
23% below U.S.
$57,404±$15kLowest
29% below U.S.
$73,796±$8k
9% below U.S.
$79,917±$21kHighest
about the U.S. average
Franklin and Hampton 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.
$183,400±$33k
45% below U.S.
$166,800±$10kLowest
50% below U.S.
$247,400±$66kHighest
26% below U.S.
Franklin and Lowell 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.
$945±$46
33% below U.S.
$1,264±$375Highest
11% below U.S.
$891±$266
37% below U.S.
Hampton and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,865Highest
24% above U.S.
$2,810Lowest
10% below U.S.
$3,007
4% below U.S.
$3,384
8% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.9%±20.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
26.3%±92.9
U.S.: 51.1%
13.2%±25.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
45.5%±42.2
U.S.: 51.1%
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
U.S.: 12.5%
9.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
16.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
74.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1984
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
17% above U.S.
55 minHighest
109% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
25 minLowest
4% below U.S.
Work from home
4.3%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.5%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
7.8%±8.4
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Franklin and Hampton 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 Lowell School District — Missisquoi Valley School District #89
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
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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.