Compare towns
Fairfield vs Sheldon vs Unity
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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%).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
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 | Unity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,938 |
2,267Highest |
1,375Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7 9% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fairfield and Sheldon 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 8% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Unity 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 4% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
| Fairfield and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,056±$441Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Unity and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,816 54% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Unity 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sheldon and Unity 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 | Unity School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.