Compare towns
Newfields vs Sheldon vs Fair Haven vs Lyme
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfields has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Newfields | Sheldon | Fair Haven | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,023 |
2,267 |
2,724Highest |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
39.2±7.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.6%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields 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 | $197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$176,500±$14kLowest 47% below U.S. |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$3,865 24% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Newfields 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 | Newfields School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.