Compare towns
Guildhall vs Fair Haven vs Sheldon vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Guildhall has the highest household income ($115k).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Sheldon has the most people working from home (13%).
Lancaster has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Guildhall | Fair Haven | Sheldon | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 371Lowest |
2,724 |
2,267 |
3,216Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±7.8 10% above U.S. |
39.2±7.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±7.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fair Haven and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $115,000±$46kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$68,911±$23k 15% below U.S. |
| Guildhall and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $321,200±$62kHighest 3% below U.S. |
$176,500±$14kLowest 47% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$215,700±$24k 35% below U.S. |
| Guildhall and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$717 40% below U.S. |
$830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263 28% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,625Highest 48% above U.S. |
$3,865 24% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$4,226 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Guildhall and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1942 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sheldon and Lancaster 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 | — | #66 of 70 in VT | — | #107 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | White Mountains Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.