Compare towns
Sheldon vs Middlesex vs Vernon 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).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Vernon has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Middlesex | Vernon | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
1,943 |
2,709Highest |
1,938Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
44.4±3.9Highest 3% above VT |
42.6±5.4 about the VT average |
42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
| Middlesex and Vernon 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% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.6Lowest 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% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±2.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Vernon and Middlesex 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.6% VT: 43.8% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex 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 |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$85,682±$9k 6% above VT |
$87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$285,100±$25k 10% below VT |
$320,600±$22k about the VT average |
| Middlesex 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 4% above VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,023±$214Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,056±$441 14% below VT |
| Middlesex and Sheldon 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,191 3% above VT |
$4,816 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7 VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairfield and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #30 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Vernon 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.