Compare towns
Fair Haven vs Sheldon vs Williston
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).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Sheldon | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,724 |
2,267Lowest |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
| Williston and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Williston 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Williston 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% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Williston 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 |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
| Williston 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 |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,865 23% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±20.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Fair Haven and Williston 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% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 31% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| 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 |
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.