Compare towns

Sheldon 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 affordable homes ($272k median).
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.

MeasureSheldonTunbridgeFairfield
People
Population
2,267Highest
1,253Lowest
1,938
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+4.1%
VT: +2.8%
+8.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
40.9±3.5Lowest
5% 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%
21.1%±4.4Lowest
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%
20.9%±1.6Highest
VT: 21.4%
14.3%±1.8
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
14.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
42.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
30.2%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2%±1.3Lowest
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±$25kLowest
3% 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±$61kLowest
14% 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
$1,346±$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
$4,645
8% below VT
$4,816Highest
4% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±27Lowest
VT: 48.4%
76.7%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
29.2%±20.4
VT: 48.4%
Tunbridge and Fairfield 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%
14.4%Highest
VT: 10.1%
5.1%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89%Highest
VT: 73.2%
84.2%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
88.5%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
1981Lowest
5 yrs newer than VT
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
7% above VT
31 minHighest
31% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
Work from home
13%±3.7
VT: 16.9%
25.8%±8.2Highest
VT: 16.9%
7.8%±3Lowest
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

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.