Compare towns
Sheldon vs Stratton vs Fairlee vs Proctor
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 homeowners (89%).
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k 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 | Stratton | Fairlee | Proctor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267Highest |
532Lowest |
1,066 |
1,794 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
| Fairlee and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Fairlee 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 3% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$74,167±$12kLowest 9% below VT |
| Stratton 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 |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$1,029±$202Lowest 17% below VT |
| Sheldon and Stratton 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 |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.7% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Fairlee and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | Rivendell Interstate School District | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.