Compare towns
Sheldon vs Poultney 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 people working from home (13%).
Poultney has the most renters (43.3% rent).
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 | Poultney | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267Highest |
1,033Lowest |
1,938 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-33.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
28.2±4.5Lowest 35% 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%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
16.8%±5Lowest 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% |
21.1%±6.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Poultney 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% |
38.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
22.1%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$70,536±$11kLowest 13% 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±$61k 14% below VT |
$196,600±$43kLowest 38% below VT |
$320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
| Fairfield and Sheldon 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 |
$868±$113Lowest 30% below VT |
$1,056±$441 14% below VT |
| Sheldon and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,578 29% below VT |
$3,450Lowest 32% below VT |
$4,816Highest 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
23.2%±12.4 VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairfield and Poultney 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% |
11.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
56.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
31 minHighest 33% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Sheldon and Poultney 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 | — | #41 of 70 in VT | — |
| 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.