Compare towns
Fairfield vs Sheldon vs Winhall vs Wallingford
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).
Winhall has grown the fastest since 2010 (+53.7%).
Wallingford has the most affordable homes ($262k median).
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 | Winhall | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,938 |
2,267 |
752Lowest |
2,286Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+53.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
48.9±6.1Highest 13% above VT |
45.9±10.8 6% above VT |
| Winhall and Wallingford 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% |
17%±6.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±5 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% |
20.6%±5.3 VT: 21.4% |
23.9%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wallingford and Winhall 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% |
67.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
3.1%±4 VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Fairfield and Winhall 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 |
$95,500±$23kHighest 18% above VT |
$80,230±$15k about the VT average |
| Winhall 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 |
$471,800±$55kHighest 49% above VT |
$261,900±$44kLowest 17% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,056±$441 14% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,094±$732 11% below VT |
$891±$95Lowest 28% below VT |
| Sheldon and Winhall 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 |
$6,567Highest 30% above VT |
$4,355 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.5%±38.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
14.3%±13.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Winhall 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 VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.3% VT: 10.1% |
7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
27 minHighest 13% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
18.4%±9Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Winhall 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 | — | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| 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 | 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.