Compare towns
Sheldon vs Hampton vs Andover 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 youngest population (median age 40.9).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Fairfield has the most kids (25.4% under 18).
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 | Hampton | Andover | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267Highest |
1,145 |
616Lowest |
1,938 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +8.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
43.1±14.7 11% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1Highest 26% above U.S. |
42.3±2.7 9% above U.S. |
| Andover and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
15.9%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest 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% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Andover and Hampton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
15.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fairfield and Hampton 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 about the U.S. average |
$73,796±$8kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$102,500±$38kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$87,019±$22k 8% above U.S. |
| Andover 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. |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$382,900±$68kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$320,600±$22k 4% below U.S. |
| Andover and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,264±$375 11% below U.S. |
$1,389±$364Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,056±$441Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Andover and Sheldon 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. |
$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$5,190Highest 66% above U.S. |
$4,816 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±20.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | — | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| High school 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.