Compare towns
Stratton vs Fairlee vs Sheldon vs Sunderland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Sunderland has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Stratton | Fairlee | Sheldon | Sunderland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 532Lowest |
1,066 |
2,267Highest |
1,269 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.1% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
40.8±2.8 5% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
23.6%±5.4 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+ | 11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
16.7%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.2% VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
3.1%±3.9 VT: 7% |
| Fairlee and Sunderland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$74,760±$10kLowest 8% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$88,523±$16k 9% above VT |
| Stratton and Sunderland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$300,000±$43k 5% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,083±$242Lowest 12% below VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,413±$242Highest 15% above VT |
| Sunderland and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,750 6% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,136 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
51.5%±61.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Sunderland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
11.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
91.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 39% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
23 minLowest 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5 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 | — | Rivendell Interstate School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.