Compare towns
Fairfield vs Sheldon vs Mendon
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).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Mendon has the most people working from home (22.5%).
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 | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,938 |
2,267Highest |
1,113Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
| Mendon 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% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest 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% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.2% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Fairfield and Mendon 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 |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
| Mendon 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 |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
| Mendon 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 |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
| Sheldon and Mendon 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 |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon 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% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon 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 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.