Compare towns
Fair Haven vs Surry vs Vernon
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 the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
Vernon has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Surry | Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,724Highest |
1,052Lowest |
2,709 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±7.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.7±5.1Highest 15% above U.S. |
42.6±5.4 10% above U.S. |
| Surry and Vernon 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% |
20.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Surry 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.8%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Surry and Vernon 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
31.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Surry 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. |
$110,125±$25kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$85,682±$9k 6% above U.S. |
| Surry and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $176,500±$14kLowest 47% below U.S. |
$331,400±$23kHighest about the U.S. average |
$285,100±$25k 14% below U.S. |
| Surry and Vernon 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. |
$1,955±$374Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,023±$214 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,865Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$6,384Highest 105% above U.S. |
$5,191 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±20.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±74.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.2%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fair Haven and Surry 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% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Surry and Vernon 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 | — | #30 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Vernon 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 |
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.