Compare towns
Fairfield vs Proctor vs Ryegate 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 the most expensive homes ($321k median).
Proctor has the oldest population (median age 47.3).
Ryegate has the most renters (15.3% rent).
Sheldon has the most people working from home (13%).
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 | Proctor | Ryegate | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,938 |
1,586 |
1,059Lowest |
2,267Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
47.3±8.9Highest 10% above VT |
41.2±2.6 4% below VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
| Proctor 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% |
17.2%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.2%±4.6 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% |
23.5%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±1.5 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Proctor and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28% VT: 43.8% |
29.1% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.9%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.4 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Proctor 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 |
$75,060±$12k 8% below VT |
$66,484±$15kLowest 18% 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±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$206,000±$20kLowest 35% below VT |
$219,300±$32k 31% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
| 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 14% below VT |
$1,059±$200 14% below VT |
$908±$236Lowest 26% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon and Proctor 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 |
$3,944 22% below VT |
$3,472Lowest 31% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
39.4%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
55.9%±29.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ryegate and Proctor 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% VT: 10.1% |
14.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% VT: 73.2% |
86.3% VT: 73.2% |
84.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1949 27 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 5% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5 VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Sheldon and Proctor 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 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.