Compare towns
Stratton vs Sheldon 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
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
Sheldon has the most people working from home (13%).
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 | Stratton | Sheldon | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 532Lowest |
2,267 |
2,724Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
40.9±3.5Highest 5% below VT |
39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
| Sheldon and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1Lowest 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% |
12.6%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Fair Haven and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
23.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Fair Haven and Sheldon 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 |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% 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 | $400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% 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 | $4,750Highest 6% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,865 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Fair Haven and Stratton 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% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 39% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school 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 | 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.