Compare towns
Sheldon vs Barnard vs Williamstown vs Fairfield
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 youngest population (median age 40.9).
Barnard has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Williamstown has the most affordable homes ($235k median).
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 | Barnard | Williamstown | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
1,211Lowest |
3,579Highest |
1,938 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
42.4±6Highest about the VT average |
42±5 about the VT average |
42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
| Barnard 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% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Fairfield 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% |
22%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Barnard and Williamstown 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% |
55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
17.6% VT: 43.8% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Williamstown and Fairfield 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 3% below VT |
$97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
$94,418±$10k 16% above VT |
$87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
| Barnard and Williamstown 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 |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
$234,900±$24kLowest 26% below VT |
$320,600±$22k about the VT average |
| Barnard and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,372±$80 11% above VT |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
$1,056±$441Lowest 14% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$6,038Highest 20% above VT |
$3,841 24% below VT |
$4,816 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
29 minHighest 21% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard and Williamstown 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 | — | — | #47 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5 |
— |
| 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.