Compare towns
Hampton vs Sheldon vs Williston 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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Williston | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,145Lowest |
2,267 |
10,144Highest |
2,724 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%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. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
39.2±7.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Williston and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.9%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Williston 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston 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% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%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%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Fair Haven 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±$25k about the U.S. average |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Williston 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. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$176,500±$14k 47% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,264±$375 11% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$3,865 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% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fair Haven and Williston 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest 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. |
1993Highest 13 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 min 5% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.8%±8.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston 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 | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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.