Compare towns
Sheldon vs Barre vs Proctor 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
Sheldon has the most people working from home (13%).
Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Proctor has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
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 | Sheldon | Barre | Proctor | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
5,572Highest |
1,794Lowest |
2,724 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5Highest 13% above U.S. |
42.4±6.4 9% above U.S. |
39.2±7.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Barre and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Proctor and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barre 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 | $78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$107,727±$13kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$74,167±$12k 8% below U.S. |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Barre and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$394,300±$55kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$209,900±$17k 37% below U.S. |
$176,500±$14kLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,030±$713 27% below U.S. |
$1,029±$202 27% below U.S. |
$830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
$4,032 29% above U.S. |
$3,865 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fair Haven and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sheldon and Barre 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 | — | #134 of 282 in MA | — | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Quabbin | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
8.7Lowest |
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.