Compare towns
Exeter 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
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 51.7).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Exeter | Fairfield | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 913Lowest |
1,938 |
2,267Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.7±12.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
42.3±2.7 9% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±7.1Lowest 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+ | 26.9%±10.5Highest 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+ | 28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±1.9Lowest 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 | $77,550±$19kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$87,019±$22kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
| Fairfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$89kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$320,600±$22kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
| Fairfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,056±$441 25% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$4,816Highest 54% above U.S. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±20.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| 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 |
| 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.