Compare towns
Fair Haven vs Sandgate vs Wilder
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 kids (19.4% under 18).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Wilder has the most expensive homes ($273k 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 | Sandgate | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,724 |
435Lowest |
3,087Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
| Sandgate and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fair Haven and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3 VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.8% VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Wilder 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±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$69,167±$19k 15% below VT |
$75,143±$9kHighest 7% below VT |
| Wilder and Sandgate 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 |
$193,800±$31k 39% below VT |
$273,200±$18kHighest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
— | $1,142±$451Highest 7% below VT |
| Wilder 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 |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$5,505Highest 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±20.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Fair Haven and Wilder 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% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1959 17 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 31% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Wilder 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 | — | — |
| High school in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.