Compare towns
Sheldon vs Putnam vs Troy 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
Sheldon has the most people working from home (13%).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 53.6).
Troy has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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 | Putnam | Troy | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
540Lowest |
1,749 |
2,724Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
44.5±5.7 14% above U.S. |
39.2±7.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Putnam 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 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fair Haven and Putnam 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 |
$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$87,938±$11k 9% above U.S. |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
$233,200±$21k 30% below U.S. |
$176,500±$14kLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Putnam 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. |
— | $646±$323Lowest 54% below U.S. |
$830±$116 41% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$3,674 18% above U.S. |
$3,644 17% above U.S. |
$3,865Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.8%±26.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fair Haven and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sheldon and Putnam 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 | PUTNAM CENTRAL 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 → |
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.