Compare towns

Hampton vs Waltham 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).
Waltham has the most people working from home (20.6%).
Fair Haven has the most kids (19.4% under 18).

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.

MeasureHamptonWalthamFair Haven
People
Population
1,145
452Lowest
2,724Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-8.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+0.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.1±14.7
11% above U.S.
60.8±7.3Highest
56% above U.S.
39.2±7.6Lowest
about the U.S. average
Waltham and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.9%±6.9
U.S.: 22%
12.8%±7.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
Fair Haven and Hampton 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%
45.4%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.4%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
15.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
39%Highest
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%±2.1Lowest
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.
$97,500±$14kHighest
21% above U.S.
$62,404±$16kLowest
23% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$166,800±$10kLowest
50% below U.S.
$329,700±$51kHighest
about the U.S. average
$176,500±$14k
47% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,264±$375Highest
11% below U.S.
$1,096±$113
22% below U.S.
$830±$116Lowest
41% below U.S.
Hampton and Waltham 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.
$5,714Highest
83% above U.S.
$3,865
24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
13.2%±25.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
29.2%±58.6
U.S.: 51.1%
50.9%±20.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Fair Haven and Waltham 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%
5.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
18.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1986
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
28 min
5% above U.S.
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
Work from home
7.8%±8.4
U.S.: 15.1%
20.6%±5.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
4.3%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Waltham and Hampton 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 — — Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62
High school in town — — Fair Haven Union Middle and High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
12.8
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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.