Compare towns
Williamstown vs Middlesex vs Windham 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
Williamstown has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Williamstown | Middlesex | Windham | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,579Highest |
1,943 |
594Lowest |
2,724 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
— | +0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±5 about the VT average |
44.4±3.9Highest 3% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below VT |
| Middlesex and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Windham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
23.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,418±$10k 16% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
| Middlesex and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,900±$24k 26% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
| Middlesex and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
— | $830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
| Williamstown and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,841Lowest 24% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,951 18% above VT |
$3,865 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 17% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Windham 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 | #47 of 70 in VT | — | — | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | None in town | — | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
— | — | 12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.