Compare towns

Whitingham 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

Whitingham has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Sheldon has the most people working from home (13%).
Fair Haven has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).

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.

MeasureWhitinghamSheldonFair Haven
People
Population
1,368Lowest
2,267
2,724Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1%
VT: +2.8%
-2.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+0.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
46.4±7.1Highest
8% above VT
40.9±3.5
5% below VT
39.2±7.6Lowest
9% below VT
Whitingham and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.8%±4.5
VT: 17.9%
23.7%±3.6Highest
VT: 17.9%
19.4%±5.1Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Sheldon and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
31.1%±2.3Highest
VT: 21.4%
12.6%±2.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
18.4%±4.5
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
32.8%Highest
VT: 43.8%
14.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
23.7%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.2%±1.9
VT: 7%
2%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
4.1%±2.9Highest
VT: 7%
Fair Haven and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$70,625±$11k
13% below VT
$78,533±$25kHighest
3% below VT
$62,404±$16kLowest
23% below VT
Sheldon and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$262,300±$30k
17% below VT
$272,400±$61kHighest
14% below VT
$176,500±$14kLowest
44% below VT
Sheldon and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$673±$150Lowest
45% below VT
$1,286±$379Highest
4% above VT
$830±$116
33% below VT
Sheldon and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,055Highest
about the VT average
$3,578Lowest
29% below VT
$3,865
23% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62.7%±47.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
0%±27Lowest
VT: 48.4%
50.9%±20.9
VT: 48.4%
Whitingham and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
15.5%
VT: 10.1%
5.1%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
18.9%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.2%
VT: 73.2%
89%Highest
VT: 73.2%
80.6%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
2 yrs older than VT
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
38 minHighest
62% above VT
25 minLowest
7% above VT
31 min
31% above VT
Work from home
9.7%±5.2
VT: 16.9%
13%±3.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
4.3%±2.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Sheldon and Whitingham 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 Twin Valley Unified School District #75 Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62
High school in town Twin Valley Middle High School None in town Fair Haven Union Middle and High School
Students per teacherat that high school
7.8Lowest
—
12.8Highest
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.