Compare towns
Fair Haven vs Newfields vs Sheldon vs Castleton
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 the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Newfields has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
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 | Newfields | Sheldon | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,724 |
2,023Lowest |
2,267 |
4,453Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±7.6 about the U.S. average |
44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Newfields 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest 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% |
13.6%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $176,500±$14kLowest 47% below U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
| Newfields and Sheldon 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Newfields 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 |
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.