Compare towns
Lancaster vs Fair Haven vs Vernon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
Bordering LancasterDepew
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Fair Haven has the youngest population (median age 39.2).
Vernon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+53.8%).
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 | Lancaster | Fair Haven | Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,113Highest |
2,724Lowest |
8,219 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+53.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±4.7 16% above U.S. |
39.2±7.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.6±2.5Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Vernon and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Fair Haven and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Vernon and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Vernon 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 | $66,148±$7k 18% below U.S. |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$77,601±$6kHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Vernon and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $202,200±$16kHighest 39% below U.S. |
$176,500±$14kLowest 47% below U.S. |
$202,100±$11k 39% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $969±$169Highest 31% below U.S. |
$830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$900±$127 36% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,932Highest 58% above U.S. |
$3,865 24% above U.S. |
$3,656Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±19Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
26%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Highest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Vernon and Lancaster 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 | #368 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | SHERRILL CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | None yet |
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.