Compare towns
Addison vs Fairfield vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Addison has the oldest population (median age 53.1).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Addison | Fairfield | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,175Lowest |
1,938 |
2,267Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.1±7.6Highest 23% above VT |
42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.1%±1.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Addison and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,667±$7kHighest 31% above VT |
$87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
| Addison and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,200±$23kHighest 14% above VT |
$320,600±$22k about the VT average |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
| Addison and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,019±$461Highest 64% above VT |
$1,056±$441Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
| Addison and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,831Highest 16% above VT |
$4,816 4% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±62.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Addison and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Sheldon and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.