Compare towns
Lowell vs Fair Haven vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).
Fair Haven has the most renters (19.4% rent).
Sheldon has the most people working from home (13%).
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 | Lowell | Fair Haven | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,070Lowest |
2,724Highest |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
40.9±3.5Highest 5% below VT |
| Sheldon and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Lowell and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Fair Haven and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.2% VT: 43.8% |
23.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9 VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Fair Haven and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $57,404±$15kLowest 29% below VT |
$62,404±$16k 23% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
| Sheldon and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $183,400±$33k 42% below VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
| Sheldon and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $945±$46 23% below VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
$3,865Highest 23% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.3%±92.9 VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fair Haven and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6% VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 55 minHighest 135% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.5%±2.3 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Sheldon and Lowell 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 | Lowell School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.