Compare towns
Fair Haven vs Walden vs Franklin vs Proctor
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).
Walden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Franklin has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Proctor has the shortest commute (22 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 | Walden | Franklin | Proctor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,724Highest |
1,037Lowest |
1,590 |
1,794 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
48.8±3.2Highest 13% above VT |
38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
| Walden and Proctor 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% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Franklin and Proctor 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% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Proctor and Walden 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% |
26.4% VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest 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 |
$88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
$79,917±$21k about the VT average |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
| Walden 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 |
$238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
$247,400±$66kHighest 22% below VT |
$209,900±$17k 34% below VT |
| Franklin and Walden 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 |
$900±$136 27% below VT |
$891±$266 28% below VT |
$1,029±$202Highest 17% below VT |
| Proctor and Walden 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 |
$3,944 22% below VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
$4,032Highest 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Walden and Fair Haven 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% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 31% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Walden and Franklin 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 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | — | 8.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.