Compare towns

Ira vs Fair Haven vs Sandgate

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ira has the most expensive homes ($273k median).
Fair Haven has the most kids (19.4% under 18).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).

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.

MeasureIraFair HavenSandgate
People
Population
381Lowest
2,724Highest
435
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+0.1%
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
54.1±5.5
26% above VT
39.2±7.6Lowest
9% below VT
55.7±5.4Highest
29% above VT
Sandgate and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
10.5%±4.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
19.4%±5.1Highest
VT: 17.9%
13.1%±7.5
VT: 17.9%
Fair Haven and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
28.9%±3.3Highest
VT: 21.4%
18.4%±4.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
26%±11.3
VT: 21.4%
Ira and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.1%
VT: 43.8%
23.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
37.8%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±3.5
VT: 7%
4.1%±2.9Highest
VT: 7%
2.3%±2.4Lowest
VT: 7%
Fair Haven and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$71,827±$5kHighest
12% below VT
$62,404±$16kLowest
23% below VT
$69,167±$19k
15% below VT
Ira and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$272,900±$18kHighest
14% below VT
$176,500±$14kLowest
44% below VT
$193,800±$31k
39% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$942±$52Highest
24% below VT
$830±$116Lowest
33% below VT
—
Ira and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,146Highest
18% below VT
$3,865
23% below VT
$2,778Lowest
45% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
36.4%±100
VT: 48.4%
50.9%±20.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Fair Haven and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
14.4%
VT: 10.1%
18.9%Highest
VT: 10.1%
9.7%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.7%
VT: 73.2%
80.6%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
94.3%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Highest
1 yr older than VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1959
17 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
20% above VT
31 minHighest
31% above VT
27 minLowest
16% above VT
Work from home
2.3%±2.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
4.3%±2.5
VT: 16.9%
34.6%±32.4Highest
VT: 16.9%
Sandgate and Fair Haven 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
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 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.