What stands out worked out from the figures below

Poultney has the most people working from home (11.3%).

Fair Haven has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).

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	Poultney	Fair Haven
People
Population	3,010Highest	2,724Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-12%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	34±5.6Lowest 21% below VT	39.2±7.6Highest 9% below VT
	Fair Haven and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.8%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9%	19.4%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9%
	Fair Haven and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.8%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4%	18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Poultney 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+	35.5%Highest VT: 43.8%	23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	9.3%±2.3Highest VT: 7%	4.1%±2.9Lowest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,617±$6kHighest 11% below VT	$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT
	Poultney and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$206,200±$18kHighest 35% below VT	$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT
	Poultney and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$913±$84Highest 26% below VT	$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT
	Poultney and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,520Lowest 30% below VT	$3,865Highest 23% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.3%±17.3Lowest VT: 48.4%	50.9%±20.9Highest VT: 48.4%
	Fair Haven and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%Lowest VT: 10.1%	18.9%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2%	80.6%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 8 yrs older than VT	1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 24% above VT	31 minHighest 31% above VT
Work from home	11.3%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9%	4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#41 of 70 in VT	#66 of 70 in VT
School district	Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70	Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62
High school in town	Poultney High School	Fair Haven Union Middle and High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.5Lowest	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.