Compare towns
Sheldon vs Middlesex vs West Windsor 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%).
West Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+22.3%).
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 | Middlesex | West Windsor | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267Highest |
1,943 |
1,171Lowest |
1,938 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+22.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
54±5.9Highest 25% above VT |
42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
| West Windsor and Middlesex 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% |
19.8%±10Lowest 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% |
25.5%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8 VT: 21.4% |
| West Windsor 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% VT: 43.8% |
59.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
6.1%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| West Windsor and Middlesex 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 |
$108,750±$18k 34% above VT |
$87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
| Middlesex and West Windsor 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±$40k 19% above VT |
$393,500±$41kHighest 24% above VT |
$320,600±$22k about the VT average |
| West Windsor and Middlesex 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 |
$1,100±$217 11% below VT |
$1,056±$441Lowest 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 |
$5,860 16% above VT |
$4,816 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
3.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% VT: 73.2% |
96.7% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±3.2 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and West Windsor 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mount Ascutney School District #86 | 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.