Compare towns
Sheldon vs Benson vs Troy 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).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Troy has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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 | Benson | Troy | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
784Lowest |
1,749 |
2,724Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
44.5±5.7 3% above VT |
39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below VT |
| Benson 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 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.4%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.7%±3 VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Benson 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 VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.2% VT: 43.8% |
23.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Benson 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 3% below VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$87,938±$11kHighest 8% above VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
| Troy and Benson 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 |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$233,200±$21k 26% below VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
| Sheldon and Benson 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 |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$646±$323Lowest 48% below VT |
$830±$116 33% below VT |
| Sheldon and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,125Highest 18% below VT |
$3,644 28% below VT |
$3,865 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.8%±26.3 VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Benson 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% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
80.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±2.3 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Benson 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 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | 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 → |
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.