Compare towns
Fairfield vs Washington 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Washington has the oldest population (median age 52.9).
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 | Washington | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,938 |
1,056Lowest |
2,267Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.7% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
52.9±5.1Highest 23% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±4.2Lowest 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% |
24.3%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.2% VT: 43.8% |
31%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±2 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Fairfield and Washington 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 |
$66,103±$8kLowest 19% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% 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 |
$217,700±$37kLowest 31% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 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 |
$996±$285Lowest 19% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above 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 |
$3,485Lowest 31% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
34.5%±63.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Washington and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±5.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Washington and Sheldon 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 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.