Compare towns
Fairfield vs Sheldon vs Whitingham vs Bradford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
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%).
Whitingham has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
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 | Whitingham | Bradford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,938 |
2,267 |
1,368Lowest |
2,827Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
46.4±7.1Highest 8% above VT |
42.7±3.1 about the VT average |
| Whitingham and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.1%±5.7 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% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±5.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.2% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
36.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9 VT: 7% |
0.7%±1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Fairfield and Whitingham 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±$25k 3% below VT |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
$108,162±$15kHighest 33% above VT |
| Bradford 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 about the VT average |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
$258,600±$30kLowest 18% below VT |
| 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 14% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
$1,221±$808 about the VT average |
| Sheldon and Bradford 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 |
$5,055Highest about the VT average |
$4,472 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
27.9%±23.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
25 min 4% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
7.7%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Sheldon and Whitingham 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 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Oxbow Unified Union School District #91 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | Oxbow Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.8Lowest |
9.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.