Compare towns
Fairfield vs Wallingford vs Williston vs Sheldon
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).
Wallingford has the most affordable homes ($262k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Wallingford | Williston | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,938Lowest |
2,286 |
10,144Highest |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.4% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
45.9±10.8Highest 6% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
| Wallingford and Williston 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% |
18.7%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 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% |
23.9%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Wallingford and Williston 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% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Williston 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±$22k 7% above VT |
$80,230±$15k about the VT average |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
| Williston 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 |
$261,900±$44kLowest 17% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,056±$441 14% below VT |
$891±$95Lowest 28% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,816 4% below VT |
$4,355 14% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
14.3%±13.5 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% VT: 10.1% |
7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% VT: 73.2% |
82.5% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
25 min 6% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3 VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston 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 | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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.