Compare towns
Fairfield vs Woolwich vs Sheldon vs Wallingford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Woolwich has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Sheldon has the most people working from home (13%).
Wallingford has the most renters (17.5% rent).
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 | Woolwich | Sheldon | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,938Lowest |
3,158Highest |
2,267 |
2,286 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7 9% above U.S. |
55.8±5.5Highest 43% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.9±10.8 18% above U.S. |
| Woolwich and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.9%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Woolwich 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fairfield and Woolwich 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 8% above U.S. |
$102,175±$26kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$80,230±$15k about the U.S. average |
| Woolwich 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±$22kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$254,500±$59kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$261,900±$44k 21% below U.S. |
| 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 25% below U.S. |
— | $1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$891±$95Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| 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 54% above U.S. |
$2,433Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
$4,355 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
14.3%±13.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Woolwich 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
13.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sheldon and Woolwich 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 | — | #92 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | RSU 01 - LKRSU | 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 | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.