Compare towns
Sheldon vs Athens vs Fairfield vs Enosburgh
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
Athens has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Fairfield has the most expensive homes ($321k median).
Enosburgh has the most affordable homes ($223k median).
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 | Athens | Fairfield | Enosburgh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
431Lowest |
1,938 |
2,804Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
47.3±6.5Highest 10% above VT |
42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
40.6±3.9Lowest 6% below VT |
| Athens and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
21%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8 VT: 21.4% |
17.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Athens and Enosburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
20.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
5.4%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Enosburgh and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$68,438±$30k 16% below VT |
$87,019±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
$63,828±$17kLowest 21% below VT |
| Fairfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$240,400±$32k 24% below VT |
$320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$223,100±$39kLowest 30% below VT |
| Fairfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,125±$537 9% below VT |
$1,056±$441 14% below VT |
$852±$87Lowest 31% below VT |
| Sheldon and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,438Highest 8% above VT |
$4,816 4% below VT |
$3,624 28% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
48.9%±11.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Enosburgh and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
75.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
36 minHighest 53% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
32 min 36% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Athens 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 | — | — | — | #26 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Enosburg Falls Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.