Compare towns
Fair Haven vs Strafford 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).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
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.
| Measure | Fair Haven | Strafford | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,724Highest |
1,372 |
234Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
54±10.5Highest 25% above VT |
| West Haven and Strafford 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% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±13.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
29.9%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| West Haven and Strafford 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% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Strafford 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 VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$85,250±$29k 5% above VT |
| Strafford 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 |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$245,000±$34k 23% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
$1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
— |
| Strafford 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,485 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±20.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fair Haven and Strafford 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% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 31% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.4%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Strafford 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 | Strafford School District | — |
| High school in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.