Compare towns

Sheffield vs West 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).
West Fairlee has the highest household income ($77k).
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.

MeasureSheffieldWest FairleeCoventry
People
Population
573Lowest
711
917Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3%
VT: +2.8%
-4.8%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+1.3%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
42±8Lowest
about the VT average
50.3±7.6Highest
17% above VT
45.2±5.2
5% above VT
West 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%
13.5%±5.1Lowest
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%
29.7%±6.7Highest
VT: 21.4%
22.5%±3.3
VT: 21.4%
West Fairlee and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
27.1%
VT: 43.8%
44.6%Highest
VT: 43.8%
21.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.9%±4.7Highest
VT: 7%
2.8%±2.3Lowest
VT: 7%
3.7%±3.5
VT: 7%
Sheffield and Coventry 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
$76,500±$16kHighest
6% below VT
$59,342±$3k
27% below VT
West Fairlee and Coventry 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
$237,200±$35kHighest
25% below VT
$197,900±$55k
37% below VT
West 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
$1,113±$171Highest
10% below VT
$755±$108Lowest
39% below VT
West 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
$5,210Highest
3% above VT
$2,375
53% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
61.5%±41.2Highest
VT: 48.4%
50%±89.6
VT: 48.4%
1.5%±27.7Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Sheffield and West Fairlee 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%
7.3%
VT: 10.1%
19.6%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.7%
VT: 73.2%
91.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
82.8%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987
11 yrs newer than VT
1978Lowest
2 yrs newer than VT
1993Highest
17 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
28% above VT
28 minLowest
20% above VT
36 minHighest
53% above VT
Work from home
6.1%±2.7
VT: 16.9%
5.5%±5.1Lowest
VT: 16.9%
8.6%±3.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
Coventry and Sheffield 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.