Compare towns
Fairfield vs Waterville vs Sheldon vs Proctor
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 oldest population (median age 49.1).
Sheldon has the most people working from home (13%).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
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 | Sheldon | Proctor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,938 |
680Lowest |
2,267Highest |
1,794 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
| Waterville and Proctor 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% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.2% VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Waterville and Proctor 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 |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% 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 |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% 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 |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,029±$202Lowest 17% below VT |
| Sheldon and Waterville 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 |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Waterville and Proctor 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% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Sheldon and Proctor 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.7 |
| 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.