Compare towns
Sheldon vs White River Junction vs Fairfield vs Troy
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%).
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
Fairfield has the most expensive homes ($321k median).
Troy has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
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 | White River Junction | Fairfield | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
3,364Highest |
1,938 |
1,749Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
44.5±5.7Highest 3% above VT |
| Troy 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% |
17.1%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.4%±3.9 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%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8 VT: 21.4% |
17.7%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Troy and Fairfield 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% |
38.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
20.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Fairfield and Troy 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 |
$77,168±$4kLowest 5% below VT |
$87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
$87,938±$11kHighest 8% above VT |
| Troy 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 |
$278,800±$78k 12% below VT |
$320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$233,200±$21kLowest 26% below VT |
| Fairfield and White River Junction 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 |
$1,222±$216 about the VT average |
$1,056±$441 14% below VT |
$646±$323Lowest 48% below VT |
| Sheldon and White River Junction 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 |
$5,651Highest 12% above VT |
$4,816 4% below VT |
$3,644 28% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
30.8%±26.3 VT: 48.4% |
| White River Junction and Troy 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% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 7% above VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| White River Junction 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 | — | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Troy School District |
| 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.