Compare towns
Sheldon vs Middlebury 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 kids (23.7% under 18).
Middlebury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Proctor has the oldest population (median age 42.4).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Middlebury is a college town. 32.6% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Middlebury | Proctor | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
9,175Highest |
1,794Lowest |
2,724 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
31.8±3.7Lowest 26% below VT |
42.4±6.4Highest about the VT average |
39.2±7.6 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%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Proctor 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% |
20.7%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Proctor and Middlebury 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% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
23.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
32.6%±1.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$86,169±$16kHighest 6% above VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
| Middlebury 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 |
$409,700±$30kHighest 29% above VT |
$209,900±$17k 34% below VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,156±$113 6% below VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
| Sheldon and Middlebury 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 |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$3,865 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±14.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.7% VT: 10.1% |
16.2% VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlebury 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 | — | #17 of 70 in VT | — | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | Middlebury Union High School | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
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.