Compare towns
Fairlee vs Hampton vs Sheldon vs West Fairlee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairlee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
West Fairlee has the most homeowners (91.9%).
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 | Fairlee | Hampton | Sheldon | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,066 |
1,145 |
2,267Highest |
711Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7Highest 44% above U.S. |
43.1±14.7 11% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
50.3±7.6 29% above U.S. |
| Fairlee and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.9%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Fairlee and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fairlee and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,760±$10k 7% below U.S. |
$73,796±$8kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$78,533±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
$76,500±$16k 5% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,200±$39kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$237,200±$35k 29% below U.S. |
| Fairlee and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,083±$242Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,264±$375 11% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,113±$171 21% 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 | $5,617Highest 80% above U.S. |
$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
$5,210 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±89.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Fairlee and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.