Compare towns

Fair Haven vs Proctor vs Ripton vs West Haven

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).
Proctor has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Ripton has the most people working from home (17.2%).
West Haven has the oldest population (median age 54).

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 HavenProctorRiptonWest Haven
People
Population
2,724Highest
1,794
508
234Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+1.3%
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
39.2±7.6Lowest
9% below VT
42.4±6.4
about the VT average
47.7±14.2
11% above VT
54±10.5Highest
25% above VT
West Haven and Ripton 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%
21.8%±4.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
17.5%±13.3
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%
22.4%±2.5
VT: 21.4%
30.5%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
29.9%±4.7
VT: 21.4%
Ripton and West 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%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
28.1%
VT: 43.8%
48%Highest
VT: 43.8%
30.6%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±2.9
VT: 7%
3.6%±1.7
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
0.4%±4.4Lowest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$62,404±$16kLowest
23% below VT
$74,167±$12k
9% below VT
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$85,250±$29k
5% above VT
Ripton and West Haven 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
$209,900±$17k
34% below VT
$394,400±$61kHighest
25% above VT
$245,000±$34k
23% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$830±$116Lowest
33% below VT
$1,029±$202Highest
17% below VT
— —
Proctor 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
23% below VT
$4,032
20% below VT
$4,915Highest
about the VT average
$4,485
11% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.9%±20.9
VT: 48.4%
37.3%±16.2
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Ripton 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%
16.2%
VT: 10.1%
8.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
10.3%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.6%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
86.7%
VT: 73.2%
90.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
90.3%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1973
3 yrs older than VT
1978Highest
2 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
31% above VT
22 minLowest
6% below VT
24 min
about the VT average
25 min
8% above VT
Work from home
4.3%±2.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
9.4%±4.6
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
10.4%±6.5
VT: 16.9%
Ripton and West 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 — — —
School district Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 —
High school in town Fair Haven Union Middle and High School Proctor Junior/Senior High School None in town —
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
8.7Lowest
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 12 photos → 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.