Compare towns

Fair Haven vs Vernon vs Franklin

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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Vernon has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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.

MeasureFair HavenVernonFranklin
People
Population
2,724Highest
2,709
1,590Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-0.6%
VT: +2.8%
-3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
39.2±7.6
9% below VT
42.6±5.4Highest
about the VT average
38.8±6.9Lowest
10% below VT
Vernon and Fair Haven 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%
15.1%±3.6Lowest
VT: 17.9%
23.5%±5.6Highest
VT: 17.9%
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
VT: 21.4%
22.8%±2.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
15.3%±1.4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Vernon and Fair 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%
VT: 43.8%
26.6%Highest
VT: 43.8%
21.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±2.9
VT: 7%
3%±1.7Lowest
VT: 7%
7.5%±3.1Highest
VT: 7%
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 VT
$85,682±$9kHighest
6% above VT
$79,917±$21k
about the VT average
Vernon 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±$14kLowest
44% below VT
$285,100±$25kHighest
10% below VT
$247,400±$66k
22% below VT
Vernon and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$830±$116Lowest
33% below VT
$1,023±$214Highest
17% below VT
$891±$266
28% below VT
Vernon and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,865
23% below VT
$5,191Highest
3% above VT
$3,384Lowest
33% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.9%±20.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
26.2%±3.7Lowest
VT: 48.4%
45.5%±42.2
VT: 48.4%
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
VT: 10.1%
5.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.6%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.6%Highest
VT: 73.2%
76.2%
VT: 73.2%
74.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1979
3 yrs newer than VT
1983Highest
7 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
31% above VT
20 minLowest
14% below VT
25 min
8% above VT
Work from home
4.3%±2.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
6.4%±3.1
VT: 16.9%
18.1%±4.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
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 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 Our Story 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.