Compare towns
Fair Haven vs Williston vs Worcester
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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Worcester has the most homeowners (85.9%).
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 | Williston | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,724 |
10,144Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
| Worcester and Williston 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston 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 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Williston and Worcester 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Williston 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 |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,865Lowest 23% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±20.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fair Haven and Williston 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 31% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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.