Compare towns
Sheffield vs Fairlee vs Coventry
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).
Fairlee has the most people working from home (15%).
Coventry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
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 | Fairlee | Coventry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 573Lowest |
1,066Highest |
917 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8Lowest about the VT average |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
45.2±5.2 5% above VT |
| Fairlee and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±6.6 VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.2%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Coventry and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.5%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.1% VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Sheffield and Fairlee 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 |
$74,760±$10kHighest 8% below VT |
$59,342±$3k 27% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT |
$274,200±$39kHighest 13% below VT |
$197,900±$55k 37% below VT |
| Fairlee and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $967±$79 22% below VT |
$1,083±$242Highest 12% below VT |
$755±$108Lowest 39% below VT |
| Fairlee 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 |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$2,375 53% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.5%±41.2 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
1.5%±27.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.7% VT: 10.1% |
19.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 11 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 28% above VT |
24 minLowest 3% above VT |
36 minHighest 53% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.6%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Fairlee and Coventry 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District | Coventry School District |
| High school in town | None 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.