Compare towns
Sheldon vs Proctor vs Strafford 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).
Proctor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
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 | Proctor | Strafford | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
1,794 |
1,372Lowest |
2,724Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below VT |
| Strafford and Proctor 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% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Strafford 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% |
22.4%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Proctor and Strafford 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% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Strafford 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 |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
| Strafford 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 |
$209,900±$17k 34% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
| Sheldon and Strafford 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 |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$3,865 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Fair Haven and Strafford 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% |
16.2% VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 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 |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Strafford 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 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Strafford School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town | 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 → |
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.