Compare towns
Fairfield vs Fair Haven vs Benson 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%).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
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 | Fair Haven | Benson | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,938 |
2,724Highest |
784Lowest |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
| Benson 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% |
19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest 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% |
18.4%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Fair Haven 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% |
23.7% VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Fair Haven 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 |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
| Fairfield and Benson 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 |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
| Fairfield and Sheldon 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 |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon and Benson 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 |
$3,865 23% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Fair Haven 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% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% VT: 73.2% |
80.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 min 31% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Sheldon 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 | — | #66 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.