Compare towns

Arkwright vs Fairfield vs Sheldon

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Arkwright has the most affordable homes ($171k median).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Sheldon has the most people working from home (13%).

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.

MeasureArkwrightFairfieldSheldon
People
Population
859Lowest
1,938
2,267Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.8±7.2Highest
31% above U.S.
42.3±2.7
9% above U.S.
40.9±3.5Lowest
5% above U.S.
Arkwright and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.2%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
25.4%±5Highest
U.S.: 22%
23.7%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
Fairfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.2%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.3%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
12.6%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
26.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
30.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
14.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.3%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
3.5%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Fairfield and Arkwright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$93,000±$26kHighest
15% above U.S.
$87,019±$22k
8% above U.S.
$78,533±$25kLowest
about the U.S. average
Arkwright and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$170,900±$30kLowest
49% below U.S.
$320,600±$22kHighest
4% below U.S.
$272,400±$61k
18% below U.S.
Fairfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$875±$689Lowest
38% below U.S.
$1,056±$441
25% below U.S.
$1,286±$379Highest
9% below U.S.
Sheldon and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,760
21% above U.S.
$4,816Highest
54% above U.S.
$3,578Lowest
15% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50%±65.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
29.2%±20.4
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±27Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Arkwright and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Lowest
1 yr older than U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
24 minLowest
8% below U.S.
25 min
5% below U.S.
Work from home
6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.8%±3
U.S.: 15.1%
13%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Sheldon and Fairfield 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

U.S. 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.