Compare towns
Fairfield vs Ellsworth vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairfield has the most kids (25.4% under 18).
Ellsworth has the most people working from home (23.1%).
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 | Ellsworth | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,938 |
51Lowest |
2,267Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7 9% above U.S. |
61.8±13.1Highest 59% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±59.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
39.2%±46.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ellsworth 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±33.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$22k 8% above U.S. |
$89,375±$39kHighest 11% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Ellsworth 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 4% below U.S. |
$350,000±$170kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Ellsworth 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 25% below U.S. |
— | $1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,816Highest 54% above U.S. |
$3,813 22% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
— | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
— | 25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±26.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ellsworth and Sheldon 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 | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.