Compare towns
Sheldon vs Westminster vs Westminster 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).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Westminster has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
Fairfield has the highest household income ($87k).
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 | Westminster | Westminster | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
497Lowest |
2,999Highest |
1,938 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
— | -5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
43.3±11.5 about the VT average |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
| Westminster and Westminster 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% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Fairfield 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% |
19.7%±11.4 VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster and Westminster 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% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
46.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Westminster 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 |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
$71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
$87,019±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
| Fairfield and Westminster 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 |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
$273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
$320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
| Fairfield and Westminster 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 |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
$916±$126 26% 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 | $3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,480 11% below VT |
$4,063 19% below VT |
$4,816Highest 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8 VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Westminster 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% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older 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 minHighest 26% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9 VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #53 of 70 in VT | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
— |
| 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.