Compare towns
Sheldon vs Brighton 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).
Brighton has the most renters (48.9% rent).
Troy has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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 | Brighton | Troy | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
1,167Lowest |
1,749 |
2,724Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
45.2±11.6Highest 5% above VT |
44.5±5.7 3% above VT |
39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below VT |
| Brighton 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% |
18.3%±5.7Lowest 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% |
27.2%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.7%±3 VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Brighton 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% |
25.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.2% VT: 43.8% |
23.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Brighton 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 |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
$87,938±$11kHighest 8% above VT |
$62,404±$16k 23% below VT |
| Troy 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±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
$233,200±$21k 26% below VT |
$176,500±$14k 44% below VT |
| Sheldon and Troy 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 |
$775±$33 37% below VT |
$646±$323Lowest 48% below VT |
$830±$116 33% below VT |
| Sheldon and Fair Haven 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 |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
$3,644 28% below VT |
$3,865Highest 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.8%±26.3 VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton 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% |
22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
18.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1967 9 yrs 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 |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±2.3 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Sheldon and Brighton 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 | Brighton School District | 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.