Compare towns
Sheldon vs Berlin vs Salisbury 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 most people working from home (13%).
Berlin has the most renters (12.1% rent).
Salisbury has the highest household income ($100k).
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 | Berlin | Salisbury | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
2,880Highest |
1,200Lowest |
1,938 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+7.5% VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
50.6±6.5Highest 17% above VT |
42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest 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% |
26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±2.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Salisbury and Berlin 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% |
28.5% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Berlin 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 |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$99,688±$21kHighest 23% above VT |
$87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
| Salisbury 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 14% below VT |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
$306,900±$51k 3% below VT |
$320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
| Fairfield and Salisbury 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 |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,443±$984Highest 17% above VT |
$1,056±$441Lowest 14% below VT |
| Salisbury and Sheldon 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 |
$4,418 12% below VT |
$4,842Highest 4% below VT |
$4,816 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6 VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Berlin and Salisbury 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% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.7% VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 7% above VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
19 minLowest 20% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3 VT: 16.9% |
| Sheldon and Berlin 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 | — | #16 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.