Compare towns
Sheldon vs Castleton vs Putnam 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%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 53.6).
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 | Castleton | Putnam | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
4,453Highest |
540Lowest |
1,938 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
42.3±2.7 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2Lowest 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% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$87,019±$22k 8% above U.S. |
| Putnam 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±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
$320,600±$22kHighest 4% below U.S. |
| 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 9% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
— | $1,056±$441Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,578 15% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,674 18% above U.S. |
$4,816Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±20.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton 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% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sheldon and Putnam 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | 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 |
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.