Compare towns
Sheldon vs Nelson vs Proctor 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
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Proctor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
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 | Nelson | Proctor | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
648Lowest |
1,794 |
2,724Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
42.4±6.4Highest 9% above U.S. |
39.2±7.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Proctor and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Sheldon 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% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson and Proctor 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% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fair Haven and Proctor 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 |
$99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$74,167±$12k 8% below U.S. |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Nelson 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 18% below U.S. |
$340,900±$49kHighest about the U.S. average |
$209,900±$17k 37% below U.S. |
$176,500±$14kLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Nelson 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 9% below U.S. |
$1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
$1,029±$202 27% below U.S. |
$830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$5,575Highest 79% above U.S. |
$4,032 29% above U.S. |
$3,865 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fair Haven and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | — | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Nelson School District | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| 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.