Compare towns
Fairfield vs Sheldon vs Castleton vs Wallingford
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%).
Sheldon has the most people working from home (13%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Wallingford has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
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 | Sheldon | Castleton | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,938Lowest |
2,267 |
4,453Highest |
2,286 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
45.9±10.8Highest 6% above VT |
| Wallingford 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% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±5Lowest 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
23.9%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wallingford and Castleton 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% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$80,230±$15k about the VT average |
| Fairfield and Wallingford 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 |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$261,900±$44k 17% 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 |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$891±$95Lowest 28% below VT |
| Sheldon and Castleton 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 |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,355 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
14.3%±13.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Sheldon and Fairfield 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 | — | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.