Compare towns
Sheldon vs Kirby 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 affordable homes ($272k median).
Kirby has the most people working from home (20.6%).
Fairfield has the highest household income ($87k).
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 | Kirby | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267Highest |
756Lowest |
1,938 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
38.8±7.1Lowest 10% below VT |
42.3±2.7Highest about the VT average |
| Fairfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
30%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Kirby and Fairfield 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% |
19.2%±5.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Kirby and Fairfield 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% |
32.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
4.6%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Kirby 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±$25k 3% below VT |
$54,792±$21kLowest 33% below VT |
$87,019±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
| Fairfield and Sheldon 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 |
$302,900±$63k 4% below VT |
$320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
| Fairfield and Kirby 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 |
$1,250±$326 about the VT average |
$1,056±$441Lowest 14% below VT |
| Sheldon and Kirby 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 |
$4,597 9% below VT |
$4,816Highest 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
25%±100 VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairfield and Kirby 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% |
21.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% VT: 73.2% |
93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Lowest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1984Lowest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
34 minHighest 43% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±9.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Kirby and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| 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 |
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.