Compare towns
Fairfield vs Sheldon vs Warner vs Wallingford
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 youngest population (median age 40.9).
Warner has the most people working from home (16.6%).
Wallingford has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
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 | Warner | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,938Lowest |
2,267 |
2,959Highest |
2,286 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7 9% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
43.7±4 12% above U.S. |
45.9±10.8Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Wallingford and Warner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±5 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% |
20.4%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.9%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wallingford and Warner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Warner 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 8% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$94,022±$18kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$80,230±$15k about the U.S. average |
| Warner 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 4% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$353,100±$22kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$261,900±$44kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Warner 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 25% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,219±$123 14% below U.S. |
$891±$95Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Warner 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. |
$7,650Highest 145% above U.S. |
$4,355 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.7%±21.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
14.3%±13.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Warner 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% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Warner 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 | Kearsarge Regional School District | 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 |
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.