Compare towns
Castleton vs Fair Haven vs Jericho vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Jericho has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Castleton | Fair Haven | Jericho | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
2,724 |
5,114Highest |
2,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
49.7±5.1Highest 15% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.2%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Castleton and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
23.7% VT: 43.8% |
65.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$116,923±$16kHighest 44% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
| Jericho and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$493,100±$38kHighest 56% above VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
$1,731±$111Highest 40% above VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
| Jericho and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,865 23% below VT |
$7,318Highest 45% above VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
79.3%±52.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Jericho and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.8%±6.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Jericho and Sheldon 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | #66 of 70 in VT | #6 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | Mt. Mansfield Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Lowest |
13.0Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.