Compare towns

Fair Haven vs Plainfield vs Franklin vs Hampton

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%).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($318k median).
Franklin has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).

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 HavenPlainfieldFranklinHampton
People
Population
2,724Highest
1,314
1,590
1,145Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3%
U.S.: +7.4%
-8.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.2±7.6
about the U.S. average
48.1±5.5Highest
24% above U.S.
38.8±6.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
43.1±14.7
11% above U.S.
Plainfield and Hampton 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%
16.3%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
23.5%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.9%±6.9Lowest
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%
21.1%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.3%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Plainfield and Hampton 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%
48.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
21.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
15.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
2.1%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.5%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±3.1
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.
$69,250±$31k
14% below U.S.
$79,917±$21kHighest
about the U.S. average
$73,796±$8k
9% below U.S.
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.
$318,400±$34kHighest
4% below U.S.
$247,400±$66k
26% below U.S.
$166,800±$10kLowest
50% below U.S.
Plainfield and Franklin 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.
$1,153±$103
18% below U.S.
$891±$266
37% below U.S.
$1,264±$375Highest
11% below U.S.
Hampton and Plainfield 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.
$4,806Highest
54% above U.S.
$3,384
8% above U.S.
$3,007Lowest
4% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.9%±20.9
U.S.: 51.1%
73.2%±53.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
45.5%±42.2
U.S.: 51.1%
13.2%±25.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Plainfield 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%
11.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
16.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
80.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
74.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1955
25 yrs older than U.S.
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
25 min
4% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
4.3%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.4%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.8%±8.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Franklin and Plainfield 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 — 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
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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.