Compare towns
Fairfield vs Reading vs Sheldon vs Bradford
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%).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Bradford has the highest household income ($108k).
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 | Reading | Sheldon | Bradford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,938 |
699Lowest |
2,267 |
2,827Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
42.7±3.1 about the VT average |
| Reading and Bradford 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% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
20.1%±5.7 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±5.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Bradford 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% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
36.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
0.7%±1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Fairfield and Reading 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 7% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$108,162±$15kHighest 33% above VT |
| Bradford 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 |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$258,600±$30kLowest 18% below VT |
| Reading and Fairfield 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 |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,221±$808 about the VT average |
| Sheldon and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,816 4% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,472 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
27.9%±23.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Fairfield 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% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
25 min 4% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
7.7%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Sheldon 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 | — | — | — | #45 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Oxbow Unified Union School District #91 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Oxbow Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.5 |
| 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.