Compare towns
Fair Haven vs Jay vs Sheldon vs Castleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Fair Haven | Jay | Sheldon | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,724 |
471Lowest |
2,267 |
4,453Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
| Jay and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Castleton 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+ | 23.7% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
| Sheldon and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
| Sheldon and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
— | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
| Sheldon and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,865Highest 23% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 31% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay 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 | #66 of 70 in VT | — | — | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.