Compare towns
Sheldon vs Sutton vs Washington 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 youngest population (median age 40.9).
Sutton has the most renters (15% rent).
Washington has the most people working from home (14.9%).
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 | Sutton | Washington | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267Highest |
790Lowest |
1,056 |
1,938 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.7% VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
52.9±5.1Highest 23% above VT |
42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
| Washington and Sutton 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% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±4.2Lowest 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% |
21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Washington and Sutton 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% |
32.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
31% VT: 43.8% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
2.7%±2 VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Fairfield and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$71,250±$18k 12% below VT |
$66,103±$8kLowest 19% 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 |
$231,100±$41k 27% below VT |
$217,700±$37kLowest 31% 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 |
— | $996±$285Lowest 19% 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 |
$3,975 21% below VT |
$3,485Lowest 31% below VT |
$4,816Highest 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
34.5%±63.6 VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Sutton and Washington 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% |
12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% VT: 73.2% |
85%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±5.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Washington 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | 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.