Compare towns
Fairfield vs Arlington vs Dummerston vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Arlington has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Dummerston has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
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 | Fairfield | Arlington | Dummerston | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,938Lowest |
2,598Highest |
2,090 |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+6% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
45.6±11.7Highest 6% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
| Dummerston and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 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+ | 14.3%±1.8 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.2% VT: 43.8% |
55.9% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Fairfield and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
$102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
| Arlington and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $320,600±$22k about the VT average |
$318,500±$59k about the VT average |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
| Dummerston and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,056±$441Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,191±$172 3% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
| Dummerston and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,816Highest 4% below VT |
$4,549 10% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Dummerston 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% |
7.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% VT: 73.2% |
84%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #50 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Arlington School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | None in town | Arlington Memorial | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.