Compare towns
Hampton vs Proctor 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 most affordable homes ($167k median).
Proctor has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Proctor | Waterville | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,145 |
1,794 |
680Lowest |
2,724Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3% 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. |
42.4±6.4 9% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
39.2±7.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Waterville and Hampton 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% |
21.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Proctor and Waterville 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% |
22.4%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Proctor 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% |
28.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
$74,167±$12kHighest 8% below U.S. |
$71,250±$27k 12% below U.S. |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Proctor 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. |
$209,900±$17k 37% below U.S. |
$236,300±$15kHighest 29% below U.S. |
$176,500±$14k 47% below U.S. |
| Waterville and Proctor 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. |
$1,029±$202 27% below U.S. |
$1,110±$93 21% below U.S. |
$830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Waterville 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. |
$4,032Highest 29% 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% |
37.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fair Haven and Waterville 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% |
16.2% 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% |
86.7%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. |
1938Lowest 42 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 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 16% below 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% |
9.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Proctor and Waterville 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 | — | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | — | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| 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.