Compare towns
Proctor vs Northfield 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
Proctor has the oldest population (median age 47.3).
Northfield has the most expensive homes ($274k median).
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 | Proctor | Northfield | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,586Lowest |
5,920Highest |
2,724 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.3±8.9Highest 10% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
| Proctor and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±5 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fair Haven and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Proctor and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,060±$12kHighest 8% below VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
| Proctor and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $206,000±$20k 35% below VT |
$274,400±$21kHighest 13% below VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,059±$200Highest 14% below VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
| Proctor and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,944 22% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$3,865Lowest 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.4%±15.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1956Highest 20 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 5% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 10%±5 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Northfield and Proctor 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 | — | #42 of 70 in VT | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | — | Northfield Middle/High School | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| 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.