Compare towns
Fairfield vs Waterville vs Dummerston 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%).
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
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 | Waterville | Dummerston | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,938 |
680Lowest |
2,090 |
2,267Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
| Waterville and Dummerston 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% |
20.4%±8.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 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% |
14.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.2% VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Waterville 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 |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
| Dummerston 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 |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
| Dummerston and Fairfield 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 |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
| Dummerston 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 |
$3,957 21% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Waterville and Dummerston 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% |
4.9% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston 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 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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 Our Story | 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.