Compare towns
Sheldon vs Washington vs Fairfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Washington has the oldest population (median age 55).
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 | Washington | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267Highest |
1,208Lowest |
1,938 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
55±4.7Highest 41% above U.S. |
42.3±2.7 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Washington 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 about the U.S. average |
$89,453±$12kHighest 11% above U.S. |
$87,019±$22k 8% above U.S. |
| Washington 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 18% below U.S. |
$358,600±$32kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$320,600±$22k 4% below U.S. |
| Washington and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,106±$160 22% below U.S. |
$1,056±$441Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$4,321 39% above U.S. |
$4,816Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±88.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±20.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Washington 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 |
U.S. 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.