Compare towns
Dorset vs Fairfield vs Sheldon vs Mount Tabor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Fairfield has the most kids (25.4% under 18).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Mount Tabor has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
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 | Dorset | Fairfield | Sheldon | Mount Tabor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092 |
1,938 |
2,267Highest |
304Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
57.8±10.6Highest 34% above VT |
| Mount Tabor and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.5 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±6.1Lowest 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+ | 21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
42.4%±18.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Mount Tabor and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.6%±4Lowest 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 | $111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
$87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below 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 | $569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$320,600±$22k about the VT average |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$420,500±$76k 33% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296 15% above VT |
$1,056±$441Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$2,143±$367Highest 74% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$4,816 4% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,233 4% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
88.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
92.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1946Lowest 30 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 8% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
46 minHighest 94% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
10.4%±8.7 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 | — |
| 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 | 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.