Compare towns
Fair Haven vs Montgomery vs Sheldon vs Hampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fair Haven has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Montgomery has the most people working from home (16%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k 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 | Fair Haven | Montgomery | Sheldon | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,724Highest |
1,047Lowest |
2,267 |
1,145 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±7.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.5±11.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
43.1±14.7 11% above U.S. |
| Montgomery and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.9%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fair Haven and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,404±$16k 23% below U.S. |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$78,533±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
$73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $176,500±$14k 47% below U.S. |
$323,200±$45kHighest about the U.S. average |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
| Montgomery and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$868±$209 39% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,264±$375 11% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,865 24% above U.S. |
$4,326Highest 39% above U.S. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
76.6%±68Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Montgomery 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
15.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Montgomery 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | 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 Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.