Compare towns
Fair Haven vs Westminster vs Hampton vs Benson
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Benson has the highest household income ($79k).
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 | Westminster | Hampton | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,724 |
2,999Highest |
1,145 |
784Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±7.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
43.1±14.7 11% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.9%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Fair Haven and Westminster 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% |
27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Westminster 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. |
$71,491±$4k 11% below U.S. |
$73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
$78,625±$8kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Benson and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $176,500±$14k 47% below U.S. |
$273,800±$35kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
| Westminster and Benson 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. |
$916±$126 35% below U.S. |
$1,264±$375Highest 11% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,865 24% above U.S. |
$4,063 30% above U.S. |
$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$4,125Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster and Benson 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 | #53 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | Bellows Falls Union High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.6Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | 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.