Compare towns
Fairfield vs Hampton vs Castleton 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Sheldon has the most people working from home (13%).
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 | Hampton | Castleton | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,938 |
1,145Lowest |
4,453Highest |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7 9% above U.S. |
43.1±14.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
| Hampton 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.9%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 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% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Castleton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$22kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$73,796±$8kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
| Fairfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $320,600±$22kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
| 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±$441Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$1,264±$375 11% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Hampton 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. |
$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$3,167 about the U.S. average |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sheldon and Fairfield 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 | — | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | 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 | 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.