Compare towns
Fairfield vs Nelson vs Sheldon vs Wallingford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Wallingford has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
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 | Nelson | Sheldon | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,938 |
648Lowest |
2,267 |
2,286Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7 9% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.9±10.8Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Wallingford 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 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.9%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 8% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$80,230±$15k about the U.S. average |
| Nelson 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 4% below U.S. |
$340,900±$49kHighest about the U.S. average |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$261,900±$44kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Nelson 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 25% below U.S. |
$1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$891±$95Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,816 54% above U.S. |
$5,575Highest 79% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$4,355 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
14.3%±13.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Nelson and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Nelson School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| 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 |
U.S. 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.