Compare towns

Fairlee vs Sheldon vs Troy

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Troy has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).

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.

MeasureFairleeSheldonTroy
People
Population
1,066Lowest
2,267Highest
1,749
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.1%
VT: +2.8%
-2.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+3.6%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
56.2±8.7Highest
30% above VT
40.9±3.5Lowest
5% below VT
44.5±5.7
3% above VT
Fairlee and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
12.2%±4.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
23.7%±3.6Highest
VT: 17.9%
21.4%±3.9
VT: 17.9%
Sheldon and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
33.4%±5.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
12.6%±2.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
17.7%±3
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46.5%Highest
VT: 43.8%
14.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
20.2%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±3.7Highest
VT: 7%
2%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
2.7%±1.4
VT: 7%
Fairlee and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$74,760±$10kLowest
8% below VT
$78,533±$25k
3% below VT
$87,938±$11kHighest
8% above VT
Troy 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±$39kHighest
13% below VT
$272,400±$61k
14% below VT
$233,200±$21kLowest
26% below VT
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±$242
12% below VT
$1,286±$379Highest
4% above VT
$646±$323Lowest
48% 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
$3,578Lowest
29% below VT
$3,644
28% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
89.2%±71.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
0%±27Lowest
VT: 48.4%
30.8%±26.3
VT: 48.4%
Fairlee and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
14.7%Highest
VT: 10.1%
5.1%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.6%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
89%Highest
VT: 73.2%
86.6%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Lowest
4 yrs older than VT
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
3% above VT
25 minHighest
7% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
Work from home
15%±7.9Highest
VT: 16.9%
13%±3.7
VT: 16.9%
7.8%±2.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
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 Troy 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

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.