Compare towns
Brandon 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
Brandon has the oldest population (median age 50.1).
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.
| Measure | Brandon | Fairfield | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,120Highest |
1,938Lowest |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1Highest 16% above VT |
42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4.3Lowest 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+ | 22.3%±4.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Fairfield and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,180±$12kLowest 21% below VT |
$87,019±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
| Fairfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,800±$23kLowest 28% below VT |
$320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
| Fairfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225 14% below VT |
$1,056±$441Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,241 16% below VT |
$4,816Highest 4% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Brandon and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Sheldon and Brandon 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 | #69 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
— | — |
| 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.