Compare towns
Sheldon vs Becket vs Troy 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 kids (23.7% under 18).
Becket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Troy has the highest household income ($88k).
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 | Becket | Troy | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
1,962 |
1,749Lowest |
2,724Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
49.6±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
44.5±5.7 14% above U.S. |
39.2±7.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Becket and Troy 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% |
15.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Troy 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% |
21.3%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Becket and Fair Haven 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% |
45.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fair Haven and Becket 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 |
$80,417±$29k about the U.S. average |
$87,938±$11kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Troy and Becket 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. |
$361,000±$82kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$233,200±$21k 30% below U.S. |
$176,500±$14kLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Becket and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$2,107±$1kHighest 49% above U.S. |
$646±$323Lowest 54% below U.S. |
$830±$116 41% below U.S. |
| Becket and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,578 15% above U.S. |
$3,047Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,644 17% above U.S. |
$3,865Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.8%±26.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Becket 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Becket 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 | — | — | — | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Central Berkshire | Troy School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None 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.