Compare towns
Fair Haven vs Jay vs Sheldon vs West Haven
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 the most people working from home (27.3%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
West Haven has the highest household income ($85k).
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 | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,724Highest |
471 |
2,267 |
234Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
54±10.5Highest 25% above VT |
| West Haven and Jay 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% |
17.5%±13.3 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% |
29.9%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.7% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
0.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Fair Haven and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$85,250±$29kHighest 5% above VT |
| West Haven and Sheldon 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 |
$245,000±$34k 23% below VT |
| Sheldon and West Haven 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 |
— |
| Sheldon and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,865 23% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,485Highest 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±20.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fair Haven and Jay 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% |
10.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
90.3% 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 |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 31% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
10.4%±6.5 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — |
| High school in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | 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.