Compare towns
Fairfield vs Sheldon vs Waltham
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).
Waltham has the most people working from home (20.6%).
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 | Waltham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,938 |
2,267Highest |
452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±7.4Lowest 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% |
45.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.2% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39%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 Waltham 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 |
$97,500±$14kHighest 20% above VT |
| Waltham 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 |
$329,700±$51kHighest 4% above VT |
| Waltham 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 |
$1,096±$113 11% below VT |
| Sheldon and Waltham 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 |
$5,714Highest 13% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±58.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Lowest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1984Lowest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Waltham 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.