Compare towns

Windham 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

Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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.

MeasureWindhamSheldonFair Haven
People
Population
594Lowest
2,267
2,724Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-2.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+0.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44.2±7.4Highest
about the VT average
40.9±3.5
5% below VT
39.2±7.6Lowest
9% below VT
Windham and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.5%±7.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
23.7%±3.6Highest
VT: 17.9%
19.4%±5.1
VT: 17.9%
Sheldon and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.2%±8.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
12.6%±2.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
18.4%±4.5
VT: 21.4%
Windham and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
14.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
23.7%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.8%±1.1Lowest
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
$94,500±$12kHighest
16% above VT
$78,533±$25k
3% below VT
$62,404±$16kLowest
23% below VT
Windham and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$353,900±$20kHighest
12% above VT
$272,400±$61k
14% below VT
$176,500±$14kLowest
44% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,286±$379Highest
4% above VT
$830±$116Lowest
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
$5,951Highest
18% above VT
$3,578Lowest
29% below VT
$3,865
23% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±94
VT: 48.4%
0%±27Lowest
VT: 48.4%
50.9%±20.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
Fair Haven and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.9%
VT: 10.1%
5.1%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
18.9%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%
VT: 73.2%
89%Highest
VT: 73.2%
80.6%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
6 yrs newer than VT
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
14% above VT
25 minLowest
7% above VT
31 minHighest
31% above VT
Work from home
20.5%±5.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
13%±3.7
VT: 16.9%
4.3%±2.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Windham and Sheldon 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 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
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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.