Compare towns
Fairfield vs Middlesex vs Putney 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%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Middlesex | Putney | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,938Lowest |
1,943 |
2,622Highest |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
44.4±3.9Highest 3% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest 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% |
20.6%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Middlesex and Putney 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
| Middlesex and Fairfield 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 |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Putney 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 | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | None 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.