Compare towns
Fairlee vs Sutton vs Sheldon vs West Fairlee
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%).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k 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 | Sutton | Sheldon | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,066 |
790 |
2,267Highest |
711Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
50.3±7.6 17% above VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Sutton 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% |
21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
| 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 VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
44.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Fairlee and West Fairlee 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 8% below VT |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$76,500±$16k 6% below VT |
| 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 13% below VT |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$237,200±$35k 25% 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±$242Lowest 12% below VT |
— | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,113±$171 10% below VT |
| Sheldon and West 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 |
$3,975 21% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,210 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6 VT: 48.4% |
| 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.4% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
91.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 3% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | 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 | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.