Compare towns
Fairfield vs Springfield vs Sheldon vs Proctor
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%).
Springfield has the most renters (32.3% rent).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Proctor has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Springfield | Sheldon | Proctor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,938 |
9,084Highest |
2,267 |
1,794Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
43.2±3.7Highest about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
| Springfield and Proctor 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% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4 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% |
23.6%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Springfield and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Proctor and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
| Fairfield and Sheldon 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 |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$209,900±$17k 34% 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 |
$963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
| Sheldon and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,816Highest 4% below VT |
$4,807 5% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield and Proctor 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% |
14.8% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1958 18 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Springfield and Sheldon 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 | — | #64 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield High School | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3Highest |
— | 8.7Lowest |
| 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.