Compare towns
Fair Haven vs Middlesex vs Franklin
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).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Franklin has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
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 | Middlesex | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,724Highest |
1,943 |
1,590Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
44.4±3.9Highest 3% above VT |
38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Franklin and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Middlesex 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% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Middlesex 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 |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$79,917±$21k about the VT average |
| Middlesex and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$247,400±$66k 22% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$891±$266 28% below VT |
| Middlesex and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,865 23% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±20.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
| 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 VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 31% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
25 minLowest 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Franklin 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.