Compare towns
Sheldon vs Swanton vs Tunbridge 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 homeowners (89%).
Swanton has the most renters (35.2% rent).
Tunbridge has the most people working from home (25.8%).
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 | Swanton | Tunbridge | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
2,670Highest |
1,253Lowest |
1,938 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.4% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
37.8±4.7Lowest 12% below VT |
42.7±8.3Highest about the VT average |
42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
| Tunbridge and Fairfield 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% |
24.3%±8.1 VT: 17.9% |
21.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Swanton 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% |
19.3%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
20.9%±1.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Tunbridge and Swanton 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% |
20.2% VT: 43.8% |
42.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.7 VT: 7% |
3.6%±2Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Tunbridge 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±$25k 3% below VT |
$66,607±$27kLowest 18% below VT |
$89,464±$26kHighest 10% above VT |
$87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
| Tunbridge and Fairfield 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 |
$229,000±$15kLowest 28% below VT |
$315,300±$23k about the VT average |
$320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
| Fairfield and Tunbridge 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 |
$1,238±$103 about the VT average |
$1,346±$128Highest 9% above VT |
$1,056±$441Lowest 14% below VT |
| Tunbridge 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 |
$4,370 13% below VT |
$4,645 8% below VT |
$4,816Highest 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.1%±21.6 VT: 48.4% |
76.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Tunbridge and Swanton 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% |
20.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
14.4% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.2% VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1952Lowest 24 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
21 minLowest 9% below VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
7.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.8%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | First Branch Unified School District #82 | 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.