Compare towns
Sheldon vs Windham vs Worcester 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).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Fairfield has the most kids (25.4% under 18).
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 | Windham | Worcester | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267Highest |
594Lowest |
831 |
1,938 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
| Worcester and Windham 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% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest 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% |
23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Windham and Worcester 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% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Worcester 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 |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
| Windham 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 |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$320,600±$22k about the VT average |
| Windham 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 4% above VT |
— | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% 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 |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$4,816 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Windham 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% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Windham 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 Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 | 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.