Compare towns
Hampton vs Braintree vs Sheldon vs Fair Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Braintree has the most people working from home (19%).
Sheldon has the most expensive homes ($272k median).
Fair Haven has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
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 | Hampton | Braintree | Sheldon | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,145 |
1,026Lowest |
2,267 |
2,724Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±14.7 11% above U.S. |
58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
39.2±7.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Braintree and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.9%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fair Haven and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
$79,803±$5kHighest about the U.S. average |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Braintree and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$217,700±$28k 35% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$176,500±$14k 47% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,264±$375 11% below U.S. |
$840±$405 41% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$3,908Highest 25% above U.S. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
$3,865 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.2%±25.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fair Haven and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.8%±8.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Braintree and Sheldon 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 |
| School district | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.