Compare towns
Fairfield vs Highgate vs Sheldon vs Stratton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
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 | Sheldon | Stratton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,938 |
3,528Highest |
2,267 |
532Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
| Highgate and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Fairfield 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% |
12.6%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.2% VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest 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 |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
| Stratton 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 |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,056±$441 14% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
| Sheldon and Stratton 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 |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Highgate and Fairfield 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% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 min 32% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— | — |
| 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.