Compare towns
Danby vs Fairfield vs Sheldon vs Dorset
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danby has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
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 | Danby | Fairfield | Sheldon | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,133Lowest |
1,938 |
2,267Highest |
2,092 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8Highest 22% above VT |
42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
| Danby and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Danby and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8% VT: 43.8% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9 VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Fairfield and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,321±$13kLowest 5% below VT |
$87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
| Dorset and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$41kLowest 14% below VT |
$320,600±$22k about the VT average |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$166Lowest 36% below VT |
$1,056±$441 14% below VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
| Dorset and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,543 10% below VT |
$4,816 4% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6 VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3% VT: 73.2% |
88.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 26% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| 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.