Compare towns
Hampton vs Putney 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).
Putney has the most people working from home (16.9%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Putney | Sheldon | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,145Lowest |
2,622 |
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±14.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
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%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest 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%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Fair Haven 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% |
48.6%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% |
20.4%±3.4Highest 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. |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the U.S. average |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Putney 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. |
$300,000±$44kHighest 10% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$176,500±$14k 47% below U.S. |
| Putney 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. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$830±$116 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. |
$5,313Highest 70% 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% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney 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% |
16% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest 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. |
1977 3 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 |
18 minLowest 32% 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% |
16.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Putney 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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 | 6 photos → | 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.