Compare towns

Sutton vs Fair Haven vs Benson

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).

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.

MeasureSuttonFair HavenBenson
People
Population
2,239
2,724Highest
784Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
-7.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48.1±4.1
24% above U.S.
39.2±7.6Lowest
about the U.S. average
51.9±9.4Highest
33% above U.S.
Benson and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.5%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±5.1
U.S.: 22%
16.5%±5.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Sutton and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.6%±5.9
U.S.: 17.2%
18.4%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.9%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Benson and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
23.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
32.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±3.6
U.S.: 6.4%
4.1%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
7%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Benson and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$130,313±$31kHighest
61% above U.S.
$62,404±$16kLowest
23% below U.S.
$78,625±$8k
about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$362,600±$16kHighest
9% above U.S.
$176,500±$14kLowest
47% below U.S.
$242,000±$26k
27% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,656±$614Highest
17% above U.S.
$830±$116Lowest
41% below U.S.
$1,113±$170
21% below U.S.
Sutton and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,652Highest
145% above U.S.
$3,865Lowest
24% above U.S.
$4,125
32% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
27.6%±47.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.9%±20.9
U.S.: 51.1%
53.4%±35.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Benson and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
18.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1975Highest
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minLowest
11% above U.S.
31 min
17% above U.S.
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
Work from home
14.8%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
4.3%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.6%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Benson and Sutton 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 Kearsarge Regional School District Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62
High school in town Kearsarge Regional High School Fair Haven Union Middle and High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
10.4Lowest
12.8Highest
—
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.