Compare towns
Fairfield vs Proctor vs Unity vs Sheldon
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%).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
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 | Unity | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,938 |
1,794 |
1,375Lowest |
2,267Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7 9% above U.S. |
42.4±6.4 9% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6 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% |
22.4%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$22k 8% above U.S. |
$74,167±$12kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
| Unity 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±$22kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$209,900±$17kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
| Fairfield and Unity 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. |
$1,029±$202Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
| Unity and Sheldon 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. |
$4,032 29% above U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Unity 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
16.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sheldon and Unity 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 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Unity School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— | — |
| 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.