Compare towns
Fairfield vs Walden 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%).
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Walden | Sheldon | Bakersfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,938 |
1,037Lowest |
2,267Highest |
1,109 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
48.8±3.2Highest 13% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
46.4±8 8% above VT |
| Walden and Bakersfield 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% |
14.3%±3.9 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% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bakersfield and Walden 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% |
26.4% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Bakersfield and Walden 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 |
$88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$83,462±$18k about the VT average |
| Walden 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 |
$238,900±$23kLowest 25% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$271,300±$19k 14% 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 |
$900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,200±$327 about the VT average |
| Sheldon and Bakersfield 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 |
$3,944 22% 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% |
56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
18.8%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Walden 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% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8% VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1982Lowest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
26 min 10% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
33 minHighest 40% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±7 VT: 16.9% |
| Walden 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 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | 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.