Compare towns
Sheldon vs Barton vs Proctor vs Fair Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheldon has the most expensive homes ($272k median).
Barton has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Proctor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
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 | Sheldon | Barton | Proctor | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
730Lowest |
1,794 |
2,724Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
40±5.5 7% below VT |
42.4±6.4Highest about the VT average |
39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below VT |
| Proctor and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Proctor and Barton 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 VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Fair Haven and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$62,404±$16k 23% below VT |
| Sheldon and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$209,900±$17k 34% below VT |
$176,500±$14k 44% below VT |
| Sheldon and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$830±$116 33% below VT |
| Sheldon and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,578 29% below VT |
$3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,032Highest 20% below VT |
$3,865 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Barton and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
16.2% VT: 10.1% |
18.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
52.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.5%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Barton 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 | — | #38 of 70 in VT | — | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.