Compare towns
Fairfield vs Sandgate vs Sheldon vs Proctor
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).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Proctor has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Sandgate | Sheldon | Proctor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,938 |
435Lowest |
2,267Highest |
1,794 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4 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% |
26%±11.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Sandgate and Proctor 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% |
37.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7Highest 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 |
$69,167±$19kLowest 15% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% 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 |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$209,900±$17k 34% 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 |
— | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,029±$202Lowest 17% below VT |
| Sheldon and Fairfield 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 |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Proctor and Fairfield 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% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1959 17 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate 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 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.7 |
| 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.