Compare towns
Sheldon vs Milton 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).
Milton has the highest household income ($119k).
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 | Milton | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267 |
10,769Highest |
1,938Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6% VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
41.6±2.5 3% below VT |
42.3±2.7Highest about the VT average |
| Fairfield and Milton 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% |
17.6%±3.4Lowest 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% |
16%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Milton 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% |
33.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$118,977±$10kHighest 47% above VT |
$87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$372,500±$20kHighest 18% above VT |
$320,600±$22k about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,536±$257Highest 24% above VT |
$1,056±$441Lowest 14% below VT |
| Milton 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 |
$5,610Highest 11% above VT |
$4,816 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.1%±20.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Milton and Fairfield 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% |
3.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.5% 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 |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
14.6%±2.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Milton and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #56 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Milton School District | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| High school in town | None in town | Milton Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
— |
| 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.