Compare towns
Fair Haven vs Northfield vs Proctor
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).
Northfield has the most expensive homes ($274k median).
Proctor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
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 | Northfield | Proctor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,724 |
5,920Highest |
1,794Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
42.4±6.4Highest about the VT average |
| Proctor 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 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Proctor 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 VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Proctor and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$74,167±$12kHighest 9% below VT |
| Proctor and Northfield 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 |
$274,400±$21kHighest 13% below VT |
$209,900±$17k 34% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
$1,029±$202Highest 17% below VT |
| Proctor and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,865Lowest 23% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield 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 VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1956Highest 20 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 31% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Northfield and Proctor 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 | #42 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | Northfield Middle/High School | Proctor Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.0 |
8.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.