Compare towns
Fairfield vs Highgate vs Sheldon vs Troy
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 people working from home (14.9%).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Troy has the most affordable homes ($233k 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 | Highgate | Sheldon | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,938 |
3,528Highest |
2,267 |
1,749Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
44.5±5.7Highest 3% above VT |
| Troy 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% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
21.4%±3.9 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
17.7%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Troy 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 VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
20.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Fairfield and Troy 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 |
$87,938±$11kHighest 8% above VT |
| Troy 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±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$233,200±$21kLowest 26% below VT |
| Fairfield and Highgate 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 |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$646±$323Lowest 48% below VT |
| 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 4% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,644 28% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.8%±26.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Troy and Highgate 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% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest 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 | Troy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— | — |
| 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.