Compare towns
Fairfield vs Underhill vs Sheldon 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Underhill has the most people working from home (19.4%).
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
Wallingford has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
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 | Underhill | Sheldon | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,938Lowest |
3,141Highest |
2,267 |
2,286 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
38.1±11.4Lowest 12% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
45.9±10.8Highest 6% above VT |
| Wallingford and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5 VT: 17.9% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill and Fairfield 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% |
17.6%±6 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.9%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wallingford and Underhill 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% |
50.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±2Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
$92,267±$54kHighest 14% above VT |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$80,230±$15k about the VT average |
| Underhill 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 |
$446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$261,900±$44kLowest 17% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,056±$441 14% below VT |
— | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$891±$95Lowest 28% 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 | $4,816 4% below VT |
$6,697Highest 33% above VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,355 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
14.3%±13.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairfield and Wallingford 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% |
6.4% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% VT: 73.2% |
79.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3 VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Underhill 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 | — | #2 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | 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 | 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.