Compare towns
Sheldon vs Castleton vs Wallingford 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%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Wallingford has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
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 | Wallingford | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
4,453Highest |
2,286 |
1,938Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.4% VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
45.9±10.8Highest 6% above VT |
42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
| Wallingford 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% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±5Lowest 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% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
23.9%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Wallingford and Castleton 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% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$80,230±$15k about the VT average |
$87,019±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
| Fairfield and Wallingford 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 |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$261,900±$44k 17% 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 |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$891±$95Lowest 28% below VT |
$1,056±$441 14% below VT |
| 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 29% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,355 14% below VT |
$4,816Highest 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
14.3%±13.5 VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
| 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 VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.5% VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 7% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.7 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 | ||||
| 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 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 | 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.