Compare towns
Fairfield vs Tunbridge vs Sheldon 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Tunbridge has the most people working from home (25.8%).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Bakersfield has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
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 | Tunbridge | Sheldon | Bakersfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,938 |
1,253 |
2,267Highest |
1,109Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
42.7±8.3 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
46.4±8Highest 8% above VT |
| Bakersfield and Tunbridge 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% |
21.1%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 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% |
20.9%±1.6 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bakersfield and Tunbridge 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% |
42.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.6%±2 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Bakersfield and Tunbridge 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 |
$89,464±$26kHighest 10% above VT |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$83,462±$18k about the VT average |
| Tunbridge 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 |
$315,300±$23k about the VT average |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$271,300±$19kLowest 14% below VT |
| Fairfield and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,056±$441Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,346±$128Highest 9% above VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,200±$327 about the VT average |
| Tunbridge and Sheldon 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 |
$4,645 8% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,823 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
76.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
18.8%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Tunbridge 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% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% VT: 73.2% |
84.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 min 31% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
33 minHighest 40% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.8%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±7 VT: 16.9% |
| Tunbridge and Bakersfield 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 | First Branch Unified School District #82 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | 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.