Compare towns
Sheldon vs Brownington 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%).
Brownington has the most affordable homes ($194k 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 | Brownington | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267Highest |
1,144Lowest |
1,938 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.5% VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
40.5±4.5Lowest 6% below VT |
42.3±2.7Highest about the VT average |
| Fairfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
26.1%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Brownington and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairfield and Sheldon 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% |
21.8% VT: 43.8% |
30.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Brownington 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±$25k 3% below VT |
$75,556±$17kLowest 7% below VT |
$87,019±$22kHighest 7% above 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 |
$193,800±$40kLowest 39% below VT |
$320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
| 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 |
$745±$504Lowest 40% below VT |
$1,056±$441 14% below VT |
| 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 29% below VT |
$3,912 22% below VT |
$4,816Highest 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
78.5%±29.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Brownington 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 VT: 10.1% |
21.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Lowest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1984Lowest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3 VT: 16.9% |
| Sheldon and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District | 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 |
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.