Compare towns
Fairfield vs Cavendish vs Sheldon vs Bakersfield
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%).
Cavendish has the most people working from home (18.5%).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Bakersfield has the most homeowners (94%).
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 | Cavendish | Sheldon | Bakersfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,938 |
1,242 |
2,267Highest |
1,109Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
46.4±8Highest 8% above VT |
| Bakersfield and Cavendish 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% |
18.3%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±3.5Lowest 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% |
23.6%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Cavendish and Bakersfield 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% |
39.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Bakersfield and Cavendish 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 |
$89,063±$29kHighest 10% above VT |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$83,462±$18k about the VT average |
| Cavendish and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$285,100±$40k 10% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$271,300±$19kLowest 14% below VT |
| Fairfield and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,056±$441 14% below VT |
$1,000±$546Lowest 19% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,200±$327 about the VT average |
| Sheldon and Bakersfield 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 |
$3,948 22% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,823 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
18.8%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairfield and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% VT: 73.2% |
81.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
33 minHighest 40% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±7 VT: 16.9% |
| Cavendish and Bakersfield 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 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 18 photos → | 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.