Compare towns
Sheldon vs Ashby vs Fairfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Ashby has the most people working from home (17.8%).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
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 | Sheldon | Ashby | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267 |
3,211Highest |
1,938Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
42.3±2.7 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5Highest 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+ | 12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fairfield and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$87,019±$22k 8% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$390,500±$30kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$320,600±$22k 4% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,200±$484 15% below U.S. |
$1,056±$441Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$6,034Highest 93% above U.S. |
$4,816 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±20.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashby and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashby and Sheldon 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 | — | #200 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | North Middlesex | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| 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 |
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.