Compare towns
Fair Haven vs Richford vs Sheldon
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).
Richford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
Sheldon has the most expensive homes ($272k 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 | Richford | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,724Highest |
2,467 |
2,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+1.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
39±3.6Lowest 10% below VT |
40.9±3.5Highest 5% below VT |
| Sheldon and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Richford 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% |
23.4%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Richford 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.8% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
6.4%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Richford and Fair Haven 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 VT |
$56,853±$13kLowest 30% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
| Sheldon and Fair Haven 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 |
$176,600±$16k 44% below VT |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
$1,160±$66 6% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon and Richford 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 |
$3,300Lowest 35% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
55.1%±15.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Richford 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% VT: 10.1% |
19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% VT: 73.2% |
70.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 31% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
9.8%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Sheldon and Richford 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 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | Richford Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
9.1Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.