Compare towns
Fairfield vs Wilder vs Sheldon vs Wallingford
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 expensive homes ($321k median).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Wallingford has the most affordable homes ($262k 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 | Wilder | Sheldon | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,938Lowest |
3,087Highest |
2,267 |
2,286 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1% VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
45.9±10.8Highest 6% above VT |
| Wallingford and Wilder 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% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±5 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% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.9%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder and Wallingford 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% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Wilder 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±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$80,230±$15k about the VT average |
| Fairfield and Wallingford 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 |
$273,200±$18k 14% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$261,900±$44kLowest 17% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,056±$441 14% below VT |
$1,142±$451 7% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$891±$95Lowest 28% below VT |
| Sheldon and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,816 4% below VT |
$5,505Highest 9% above VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,355 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
14.3%±13.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Wilder 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% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% VT: 73.2% |
62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.5% 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 |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Sheldon and Wilder 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 | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.