Compare towns
Fairfax vs Fairfield vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
Fairfield has the most kids (25.4% under 18).
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 | Fairfax | Fairfield | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,226Highest |
1,938Lowest |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±3.3Lowest 10% below VT |
42.3±2.7Highest about the VT average |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
| Fairfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Fairfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Fairfax and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
$87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
| Fairfax and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $378,200±$22kHighest 19% above VT |
$320,600±$22k about the VT average |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,080±$131 12% below VT |
$1,056±$441Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,497Highest 9% above VT |
$4,816 4% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±33.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairfax and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1984Lowest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1984Lowest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 31% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #36 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Fairfax School District | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.