Compare towns
Sheldon vs Barre 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 people working from home (13%).
Barre has the highest household income ($108k).
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 | Barre | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267 |
5,572Highest |
1,938Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5Highest 13% above U.S. |
42.3±2.7 9% above U.S. |
| Barre 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest 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% |
19%±5.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barre and Fairfield 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barre 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 about the U.S. average |
$107,727±$13kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$87,019±$22k 8% above U.S. |
| Barre 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. |
$394,300±$55kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$320,600±$22k 4% below U.S. |
| Barre and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,056±$441 25% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Fairfield 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. |
$5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
$4,816 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±20.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barre and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sheldon and Barre 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 | — | #134 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Quabbin | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| High school in town | None in town | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— |
| 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.