Compare towns
Fairfield vs Sheldon vs Webster
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 affordable homes ($272k median).
Webster has the most people working from home (17.1%).
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 | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,938Lowest |
2,267Highest |
2,227 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7 9% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Webster and Fairfield 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% |
22.6%±8Lowest 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% |
19.4%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fairfield and Webster 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 |
$107,171±$14kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Webster 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±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$338,500±$30kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Webster 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 25% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,396±$622Highest about the U.S. average |
| Webster 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. |
$6,021Highest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Webster 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% |
9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Webster 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 | Merrimack Valley 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.