Compare towns
Cornwall vs Fairfield vs Middlesex vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cornwall has the most expensive homes ($458k median).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Cornwall | Fairfield | Middlesex | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208Lowest |
1,938 |
1,943 |
2,267Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.4±4.6Highest 17% above VT |
42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
| Cornwall and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 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+ | 25.7%±6.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Cornwall and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
| Cornwall and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$320,600±$22k about the VT average |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
| Cornwall and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$206 9% below VT |
$1,056±$441Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
| Middlesex and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,726Highest 33% above VT |
$4,816 4% below VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±65.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Cornwall and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3% VT: 73.2% |
88.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 24.4%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.