What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hartford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).

Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hartford	Fair Haven
People
Population	10,736Highest	2,724Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.4%Highest VT: +2.8%	+0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	43.2±3.9Highest about the VT average	39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below VT
	Hartford and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18%±3Lowest VT: 17.9%	19.4%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9%
	Fair Haven and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.5%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4%	18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Hartford and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.6%Highest VT: 43.8%	23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.7Highest VT: 7%	4.1%±2.9Lowest VT: 7%
	Hartford 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	$78,125±$7kHighest 4% below VT	$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT
	Hartford and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$304,500±$26kHighest 4% below VT	$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,218±$118Highest about the VT average	$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,773Highest 15% above VT	$3,865Lowest 23% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.6%±12.7Lowest VT: 48.4%	50.9%±20.9Highest VT: 48.4%
	Fair Haven and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.1%Lowest VT: 10.1%	18.9%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.8%Lowest VT: 73.2%	80.6%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT	1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 22% below VT	31 minHighest 31% above VT
Work from home	13.9%±3.5Highest VT: 16.9%	4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#34 of 70 in VT	#66 of 70 in VT
School district	Hartford School District	Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62
High school in town	Hartford High School	Fair Haven Union Middle and High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.6Lowest	12.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.