Compare towns
Fairfield vs Sheldon vs Wayne vs Bradford
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%).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 62.6).
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 | Wayne | Bradford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,938 |
2,267 |
1,033Lowest |
2,827Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7 9% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
62.6±3.6Highest 61% above U.S. |
42.7±3.1 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±5.7 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% |
40.1%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.2% 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%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.7%±1Lowest 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 |
$90,938±$17k 13% above U.S. |
$108,162±$15kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Bradford and Wayne 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±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$266,700±$150k 20% below U.S. |
$258,600±$30kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| 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 25% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,031±$304Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,221±$808 14% below U.S. |
| 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 54% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$3,967 27% above U.S. |
$4,472 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.9%±23.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wayne and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 7% above U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.7%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sheldon and Wayne 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 | — | Oxbow Unified Union School District #91 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Oxbow Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.5 |
| 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.