Compare towns
Fairfield vs Sheldon vs Proctor 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%).
Sheldon has the most people working from home (13%).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
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 | Sheldon | Proctor | Bradford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,938 |
2,267 |
1,794Lowest |
2,827Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-0.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
42.7±3.1Highest about the VT average |
| Bradford and Proctor 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% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
20.1%±5.7Lowest 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% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±5.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bradford 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% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
36.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
0.7%±1Lowest 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±$22k 7% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$74,167±$12kLowest 9% 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±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$258,600±$30k 18% 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 |
$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 | $4,816Highest 4% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$4,472 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
27.9%±23.4 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% VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
25 min 4% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
7.7%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Sheldon and Proctor 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Oxbow Unified Union School District #91 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | Oxbow Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7Lowest |
9.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.