Compare towns
Fairfield vs Plainfield 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%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($155k median).
Sheldon has the most people working from home (13%).
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 | Plainfield | Sheldon | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,938 |
1,016Lowest |
2,267 |
2,286Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7 9% above U.S. |
34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
40.9±3.5 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%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.9%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield 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 8% above U.S. |
$70,673±$6kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$80,230±$15k about the U.S. average |
| Fairfield and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $320,600±$22kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$155,100±$17kLowest 53% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$261,900±$44k 21% below U.S. |
| Fairfield and Sheldon 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. |
$750±$207Lowest 47% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$891±$95 37% below U.S. |
| 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 54% above U.S. |
$2,667Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$3,578 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% |
40.6%±43.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
14.3%±13.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 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. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sheldon and Plainfield 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 | — | 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 |
| 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.