Compare towns
Fairfield vs Highgate vs Jericho 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%).
Highgate has the most renters (19.3% rent).
Jericho has the most expensive homes ($493k median).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Highgate | Jericho | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,938Lowest |
3,528 |
5,114Highest |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
49.7±5.1Highest 15% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
| Jericho and Highgate 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% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±4.2 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% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.2%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Jericho 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% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
65.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Fairfield and Highgate 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 |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$116,923±$16kHighest 44% above VT |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
| Jericho 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 |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$493,100±$38kHighest 56% above VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,056±$441 14% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,731±$111Highest 40% above VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
| Jericho 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 |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$7,318Highest 45% above VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
79.3%±52.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Jericho and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
21.8%±6.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Jericho and Highgate 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | #6 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Mt. Mansfield Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
13.0Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.