Compare towns

Fairfield vs Cornwall 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%).
Cornwall has the most people working from home (24.4%).
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.

MeasureFairfieldCornwallSheldon
People
Population
1,938
1,208Lowest
2,267Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+1.9%
VT: +2.8%
-2.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
42.3±2.7
about the VT average
50.4±4.6Highest
17% above VT
40.9±3.5Lowest
5% below VT
Kids under 18
25.4%±5Highest
VT: 17.9%
18.7%±3Lowest
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%
25.7%±6.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
12.6%±2.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
30.2%
VT: 43.8%
54.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
14.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.5%±1.6
VT: 7%
3.7%±3.1Highest
VT: 7%
2%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
Cornwall and Fairfield 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
$114,583±$32kHighest
41% above VT
$78,533±$25kLowest
3% below VT
Cornwall 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±$22k
about the VT average
$458,000±$49kHighest
45% above VT
$272,400±$61kLowest
14% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,056±$441Lowest
14% below VT
$1,125±$206
9% below VT
$1,286±$379Highest
4% above VT
Sheldon and Cornwall 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
$6,726Highest
33% above VT
$3,578Lowest
29% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
29.2%±20.4
VT: 48.4%
61.9%±65.5Highest
VT: 48.4%
0%±27Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Cornwall and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.1%Highest
VT: 10.1%
0.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
5.1%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.5%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
94.3%Highest
VT: 73.2%
89%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
1976Lowest
same as VT
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
about the VT average
24 minLowest
about the VT average
25 minHighest
7% above VT
Work from home
7.8%±3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
24.4%±6.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
13%±3.7
VT: 16.9%
Schools
School district Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 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.