Compare towns
Fair Haven vs Strafford 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%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Franklin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
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 | Strafford | Hampton | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,724Highest |
1,372 |
1,145Lowest |
1,590 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% 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 |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
43.1±14.7 11% above U.S. |
38.8±6.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Strafford 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% |
23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.9%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Franklin and Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford 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% |
53.3%Highest 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% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Franklin and Strafford 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. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
$79,917±$21k about the U.S. average |
| Strafford 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±$14k 47% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$247,400±$66k 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$1,264±$375Highest 11% below U.S. |
$891±$266 37% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Strafford 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. |
$7,149Highest 129% 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% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±42.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as 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. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Franklin and Strafford 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 | Strafford School District | — | 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 | 12 photos → | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.