Compare towns
Sheffield vs Fairfield vs Wheelock
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Wheelock has the most people working from home (21.1%).
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 | Sheffield | Fairfield | Wheelock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 573Lowest |
1,938Highest |
717 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3% VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8Lowest about the VT average |
42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
51±5.6Highest 18% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±6.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±4 VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
34.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Sheffield and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $58,333±$26kLowest 28% below VT |
$87,019±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
$64,792±$20k 20% below VT |
| Fairfield and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT |
$320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$189,600±$37k 40% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $967±$79Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,056±$441Highest 14% below VT |
— |
| Fairfield and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
$4,816Highest 4% below VT |
$2,937 42% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.5%±41.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Sheffield and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 11 yrs newer than VT |
1984Lowest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 28% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3 VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Wheelock and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | — |
| High school 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.