Compare towns
Fairfield vs Cambridge 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%).
Cambridge has the most renters (29.7% rent).
Sheldon has the most people working from home (13%).
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 | Cambridge | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,938Lowest |
3,767Highest |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.9% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7Highest about the VT average |
37.4±1.8Lowest 13% below VT |
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 | 25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
23%±4.9Lowest 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% |
14.4%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Cambridge and Fairfield 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% |
50.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| 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 | $87,019±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
$72,344±$19kLowest 11% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
| Fairfield and Sheldon 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 |
$343,000±$38kHighest 8% above VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
| Cambridge 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 |
$1,183±$66 4% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,816 4% below VT |
$4,910Highest about the VT average |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
66.6%±7.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% VT: 73.2% |
70.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Lowest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1984Lowest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Sheldon and Cambridge 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 | — | #25 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Cambridge School District | 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 |
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.