Compare towns
Hampton vs Castleton 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).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Sheldon has the most people working from home (13%).
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 | Castleton | Sheldon | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,145Lowest |
4,453Highest |
2,267 |
2,724 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±14.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
39.2±7.6 about the U.S. average |
| Hampton and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.9%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 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% |
20.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Castleton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%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% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$78,533±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Castleton 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. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$176,500±$14k 47% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Castleton 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. |
$1,137±$195 20% 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. |
$3,167 about the U.S. average |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
$3,865Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.2%±25.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Fair Haven 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% |
12.5% 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% |
79% 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. |
1974 6 yrs 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 |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.8%±8.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sheldon and Hampton 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | 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.