Compare towns
Fairfield vs Putney vs Sheldon vs Williston
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 kids (25.4% under 18).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Putney | Sheldon | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,938Lowest |
2,622 |
2,267 |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
| Williston 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% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 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% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Williston and Putney 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% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
| Williston 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±$22k about the VT average |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,056±$441 14% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,816 4% below VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.