Compare towns
Hampton vs Sheldon vs Jay 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).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Fair Haven has the youngest population (median age 39.2).
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 | Sheldon | Jay | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,145 |
2,267 |
471Lowest |
2,724Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±14.7 11% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
39.2±7.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Jay 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3 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% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest 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. |
$78,533±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
$74,792±$25k 7% below U.S. |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Jay 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. |
$272,400±$61kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
$176,500±$14k 47% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Jay 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. |
$1,286±$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. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
$3,588 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% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fair Haven and Jay 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% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 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 |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.8%±8.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay 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 | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | 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.