Compare towns

Fair Haven vs Springfield 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Springfield has the most renters (32.3% rent).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Franklin has the most expensive homes ($247k 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 HavenSpringfieldHamptonFranklin
People
Population
2,724
9,084Highest
1,145Lowest
1,590
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.3%
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
43.2±3.7Highest
11% above U.S.
43.1±14.7
11% above U.S.
38.8±6.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
Springfield 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%
18.6%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
15.9%±6.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.5%±5.6Highest
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%
23.6%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
15.3%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Springfield 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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
23.3%
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%
2.3%±1.4Lowest
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±$16kLowest
23% below U.S.
$66,571±$13k
18% 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.
$192,400±$20k
42% below U.S.
$166,800±$10kLowest
50% below U.S.
$247,400±$66kHighest
26% below U.S.
Franklin and Springfield 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.
$963±$100
32% below U.S.
$1,264±$375Highest
11% below U.S.
$891±$266
37% below U.S.
Hampton and Springfield 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.
$4,807Highest
54% above U.S.
$3,007Lowest
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%
49.6%±15.6
U.S.: 51.1%
13.2%±25.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
45.5%±42.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Fair Haven and Springfield 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%
14.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
16.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
67.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
74.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1958
22 yrs older than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
27 min
3% 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%
15.1%±5.5
U.S.: 15.1%
7.8%±8.4
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Franklin and Springfield 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 #64 of 70 in VT — —
School district Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District — Missisquoi Valley School District #89
High school in town Fair Haven Union Middle and High School Springfield High School — None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Lowest
14.3Highest
— —
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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.