Compare towns
Sheldon vs Ira 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 people working from home (13%).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Ira | Troy | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
381Lowest |
1,749 |
2,724Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
44.5±5.7 3% above VT |
39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below VT |
| Ira 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% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest 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% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.7%±3 VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.2% VT: 43.8% |
23.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Fair Haven and Ira 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 |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
$87,938±$11kHighest 8% above VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 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±$61k 14% below VT |
$272,900±$18kHighest 14% below VT |
$233,200±$21k 26% below VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
| Ira and Sheldon 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 |
$942±$52 24% below VT |
$646±$323Lowest 48% below VT |
$830±$116 33% below VT |
| Sheldon and Ira 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 |
$4,146Highest 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% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
30.8%±26.3 VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Fair Haven and Ira 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% |
14.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest 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 |
28 min 20% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±2.3 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Sheldon and Troy 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 | — | Troy School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school 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.