Compare towns
Fairfield vs Dorset 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%).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
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 | Dorset | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,938Lowest |
2,092 |
2,267Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
45.9±7.5Highest 6% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
| Dorset 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% |
24%±5.5 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Dorset 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% |
21.9%±4.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.2% VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Fairfield and Dorset 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 |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
| Dorset 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 |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,056±$441Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
| Dorset and Sheldon 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 |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | 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.