Compare towns
Sheldon vs Fairfax vs Fairfield vs Highgate
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 affordable homes ($272k median).
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
Fairfield has the most kids (25.4% under 18).
Highgate has the most renters (19.3% rent).
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 | Fairfax | Fairfield | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
5,226Highest |
1,938Lowest |
3,528 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
38.8±3.3Lowest 10% below VT |
42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
| Highgate 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% |
24%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Fairfax 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% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Fairfax 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 |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
$87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
| Fairfax 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 |
$378,200±$22kHighest 19% above VT |
$320,600±$22k about the VT average |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,080±$131 12% below VT |
$1,056±$441 14% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
| Sheldon and Fairfax 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 |
$5,497Highest 9% above VT |
$4,816 4% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairfax and Highgate 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.7% VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Fairfax and Highgate 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 | — | #36 of 70 in VT | — | #43 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Fairfax School District | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— | 9.8 |
| 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.