Compare towns
Fair Haven vs Waterville vs Vernon
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).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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 | Waterville | Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,724Highest |
680Lowest |
2,709 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below VT |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
42.6±5.4 about the VT average |
| Waterville 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 VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville 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% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±2.1Highest 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
3%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Waterville 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 |
$71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
$85,682±$9kHighest 6% above VT |
| Vernon and Waterville 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 |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
$285,100±$25kHighest 10% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
$1,110±$93Highest 10% below VT |
$1,023±$214 17% below VT |
| Waterville and Vernon 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 |
$3,957 21% below VT |
$5,191Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±20.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fair Haven and Waterville 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% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 31% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Waterville 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 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Vernon School District |
| 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 |
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.