Compare towns

Hampton vs Fairlee vs Sheldon

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).
Fairlee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).

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.

MeasureHamptonFairleeSheldon
People
Population
1,145
1,066Lowest
2,267Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-8.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.1±14.7
11% above U.S.
56.2±8.7Highest
44% above U.S.
40.9±3.5Lowest
5% above U.S.
Fairlee 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%
12.2%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.7%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Sheldon and Hampton 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%
33.4%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
12.6%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
15.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
46.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
14.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±3.1
U.S.: 6.4%
5.3%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Fairlee 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±$8kLowest
9% below U.S.
$74,760±$10k
7% below U.S.
$78,533±$25kHighest
about the U.S. average
Sheldon and Fairlee 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.
$274,200±$39kHighest
18% below U.S.
$272,400±$61k
18% below U.S.
Fairlee and Sheldon 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.
$1,083±$242Lowest
23% below U.S.
$1,286±$379Highest
9% 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.
$5,617Highest
80% above U.S.
$3,578
15% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
13.2%±25.1
U.S.: 51.1%
89.2%±71.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±27Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Fairlee and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
16.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
14.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
89%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1984
4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
24 minLowest
8% below U.S.
25 min
5% below U.S.
Work from home
7.8%±8.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
15%±7.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
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 Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85
High school in town — None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.