Compare towns
Fairfield vs Orwell 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%).
Orwell has the oldest population (median age 47.5).
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 | Orwell | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,938 |
1,294Lowest |
2,267Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
47.5±7Highest 10% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
| Orwell 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% |
21.8%±5.4Lowest 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% |
24%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Orwell and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
| Fairfield and Sheldon 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 |
$335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
| Orwell 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 |
$1,105±$51 10% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon and Orwell 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 |
$3,914 22% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Fairfield 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% |
10.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% VT: 73.2% |
87.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1982Lowest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 minHighest 15% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Orwell and Sheldon 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 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | 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 |
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.