Compare towns
Fairlee vs Williston 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 the oldest population (median age 56.2).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Williston | Sheldon | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,066Lowest |
10,144Highest |
2,267 |
1,389 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 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% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest 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+ | 33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williston and 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 |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$72,676±$8kLowest 11% below 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 | $274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$253,600±$81kLowest 20% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$929±$158Lowest 25% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$5,592 11% 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% |
46.9%±17.4 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Williston 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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 | 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.