Compare towns
Hampton vs Reading vs Lincoln 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).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Lincoln has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
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 | Reading | Lincoln | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,145 |
699Lowest |
1,394 |
2,724Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±14.7 11% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
45.7±3.6 17% above U.S. |
39.2±7.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Reading and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.9%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Fair Haven and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Lincoln 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% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fair Haven and Hampton 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. |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$96,667±$18kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Lincoln and Reading 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. |
$377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$365,200±$30k 10% above U.S. |
$176,500±$14k 47% below U.S. |
| Reading and Lincoln 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. |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$870±$47 38% below U.S. |
$830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Reading 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. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
$6,100Highest 96% above U.S. |
$3,865 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.2%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.1%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading 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% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 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 |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.8%±8.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Lincoln 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 | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Lincoln Town School District | 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.