Compare towns
Fairfield vs Plainfield vs Sheldon vs Sutton
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%).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (16.4%).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k 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 | Plainfield | Sheldon | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,938 |
1,314 |
2,267Highest |
790Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
| Plainfield and Sutton 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% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4 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% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Sutton and Plainfield 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% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
| Fairfield and Sutton 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 |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$71,250±$18k 12% 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±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
| Fairfield and Plainfield 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 |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
— |
| Sheldon and Plainfield 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 |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,975 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Sutton 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% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Plainfield 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 | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| 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.