Compare towns
Sheldon vs Westminster vs Middlesex 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 oldest population (median age 53.5).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
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 | Westminster | Middlesex | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
2,999Highest |
1,943 |
1,938Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 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% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster and Middlesex 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% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Westminster 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 |
$71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$320,600±$22k about the VT average |
| Middlesex and Fairfield 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 |
$916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,056±$441 14% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$4,063 19% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,816 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | — |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town | 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.