Compare towns
Fairfield vs Sheldon vs Montgomery 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 youngest population (median age 40.9).
Montgomery has the most people working from home (16%).
Wallingford has the most affordable homes ($262k median).
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 | Montgomery | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,938 |
2,267 |
1,047Lowest |
2,286Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.4% VT: +2.8% |
+2.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
51.5±11.3Highest 19% above VT |
45.9±10.8 6% above VT |
| Montgomery and Wallingford 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% |
15.5%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±5 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% |
33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.9%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Montgomery and Wallingford 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% |
52.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Fairfield and Montgomery 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 |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% 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±$22k about the VT average |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$323,200±$45kHighest about the VT average |
$261,900±$44kLowest 17% below VT |
| Montgomery and Fairfield 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 |
$868±$209Lowest 30% below VT |
$891±$95 28% 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 |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,326 14% 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% |
76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
14.3%±13.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Montgomery 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% |
15.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%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 |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
37 minHighest 58% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Montgomery 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | 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.