Compare towns
Fairfield vs Sheldon vs Williston vs Bakersfield
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 youngest population (median age 40.9).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Bakersfield has the most homeowners (94%).
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 | Williston | Bakersfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,938 |
2,267 |
10,144Highest |
1,109Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
46.4±8Highest 8% above VT |
| Bakersfield and Williston 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% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±3.5Lowest 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% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bakersfield and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.2% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Bakersfield and Williston 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 |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$83,462±$18k about the VT average |
| Williston 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±$61k 14% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$271,300±$19kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,056±$441Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,200±$327 about the VT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,816 4% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$3,823 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
18.8%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Williston 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1982Lowest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
33 minHighest 40% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±7 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Bakersfield 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 | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| 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 |
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.