Compare towns
Sheldon vs Strafford vs Stratton 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).
Strafford has the most people working from home (16.1%).
Stratton has the youngest population (median age 31.5).
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 | Strafford | Stratton | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267Highest |
1,372 |
532Lowest |
1,938 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
— | +8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Strafford 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 |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
| Stratton and Strafford 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 |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$400,000±$50k 26% above VT |
$320,600±$22k about the VT average |
| Strafford and Stratton 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 |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,056±$441Lowest 14% below VT |
| Sheldon and Stratton 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$4,816 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Strafford and Fairfield 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% |
5.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3 VT: 16.9% |
| Strafford 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 | Strafford School District | — | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| High school 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.