Compare towns
Ira vs Williston vs Fair Haven
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 oldest population (median age 54.1).
Williston has the most people working from home (22.3%).
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.
| Measure | Ira | Williston | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 381Lowest |
10,144Highest |
2,724 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below VT |
| Ira and Williston 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Fair Haven 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% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.1% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Williston 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 | $71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $942±$52 24% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,146 18% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$3,865Lowest 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Fair Haven and Williston 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 20% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #11 of 70 in VT | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school 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 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.