Compare towns
Fairfield vs Jay vs Sheldon vs Windham
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 most kids (25.4% under 18).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k 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 | Jay | Sheldon | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,938 |
471Lowest |
2,267Highest |
594 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
| Jay and Windham 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% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 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% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Windham and Jay 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% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Fairfield and Sheldon 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 |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
| Windham 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 |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
| Windham and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,056±$441Lowest 14% below VT |
— | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
— |
| Sheldon and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,816 4% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Windham and Jay 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% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1982Lowest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | 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 |
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.