Compare towns

Cornish 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

Cornish has the oldest population (median age 54).
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.

MeasureCornishFairfieldSheldon
People
Population
1,816Lowest
1,938
2,267Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
54±8.3Highest
39% above U.S.
42.3±2.7
9% above U.S.
40.9±3.5Lowest
5% above U.S.
Kids under 18
14.4%±3.2Lowest
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+
27.3%±4.1Highest
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+
40.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
30.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
14.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.4%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.5%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Fairfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$91,821±$2kHighest
14% above U.S.
$87,019±$22k
8% above U.S.
$78,533±$25kLowest
about the U.S. average
Cornish and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$296,000±$69k
11% below U.S.
$320,600±$22kHighest
4% below U.S.
$272,400±$61kLowest
18% below U.S.
Fairfield and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,221±$227
14% below U.S.
$1,056±$441Lowest
25% below U.S.
$1,286±$379Highest
9% below U.S.
Sheldon and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,796Highest
86% above U.S.
$4,816
54% above U.S.
$3,578Lowest
15% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40.5%±38.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
29.2%±20.4
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±27Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Cornish and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Lowest
same as U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
8% below U.S.
24 minLowest
8% below U.S.
25 minHighest
5% below U.S.
Work from home
12%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
7.8%±3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Sheldon and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Cornish 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 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.