Compare towns
Hampton vs Benson vs Waterville vs Fair Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Fair Haven has the youngest population (median age 39.2).
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 | Hampton | Benson | Waterville | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,145 |
784 |
680Lowest |
2,724Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±14.7 11% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2 26% above U.S. |
39.2±7.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Benson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.9%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Waterville and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Benson and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
$78,625±$8kHighest about the U.S. average |
$71,250±$27k 12% below U.S. |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Benson and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26kHighest 27% below U.S. |
$236,300±$15k 29% below U.S. |
$176,500±$14k 47% below U.S. |
| Benson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,264±$375Highest 11% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,110±$93 21% below U.S. |
$830±$116Lowest 41% 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 | $3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$4,125Highest 32% above U.S. |
$3,957 27% above U.S. |
$3,865 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.2%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9 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 | 16.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.8%±8.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | — | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.