Compare towns
Fairlee vs Putney vs Sheldon vs Rochester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairlee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
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 | Putney | Sheldon | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,066Lowest |
2,622Highest |
2,267 |
1,389 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
| Fairlee and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5% VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$72,676±$8kLowest 11% below VT |
| Putney and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$253,600±$81kLowest 20% below VT |
| Putney and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$929±$158 25% below VT |
| Sheldon and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,977 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.7% VT: 10.1% |
16% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Putney 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 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.