Compare towns
Sheldon vs Halifax vs Troy 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 homeowners (89%).
Halifax has the most people working from home (29.9%).
Troy has the most affordable homes ($233k 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 | Halifax | Troy | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267Highest |
847Lowest |
1,749 |
1,938 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.9% VT: +2.8% |
+3.6% VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
44.5±5.7Highest 3% above VT |
42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
| Troy 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% |
25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.6%±7.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.7%±3 VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Halifax and Troy 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% |
44.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.2% VT: 43.8% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Fairfield and Troy 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 |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$87,938±$11kHighest 8% above VT |
$87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
| Troy 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 14% below VT |
$267,500±$21k 16% below VT |
$233,200±$21kLowest 26% 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 |
$875±$154 29% below VT |
$646±$323Lowest 48% 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 |
$4,991Highest about the VT average |
$3,644 28% below VT |
$4,816 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.8%±26.3 VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Halifax and Troy 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% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
33 minHighest 38% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Halifax School District | Troy 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 |
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.