Compare towns

Sheldon vs Woolwich 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 people working from home (13%).
Woolwich has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
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.

MeasureSheldonWoolwichFairfield
People
Population
2,267
3,158Highest
1,938Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.9±3.5Lowest
5% above U.S.
55.8±5.5Highest
43% above U.S.
42.3±2.7
9% above U.S.
Kids under 18
23.7%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
15%±5.5Lowest
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%
33.9%±8.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.3%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
14.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
52.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
30.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
3.5%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Fairfield and Woolwich 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
$102,175±$26kHighest
27% above U.S.
$87,019±$22k
8% above U.S.
Woolwich 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
18% below U.S.
$254,500±$59kLowest
24% below U.S.
$320,600±$22kHighest
4% below U.S.
Fairfield and Sheldon 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.
—
$1,056±$441Lowest
25% below U.S.
Sheldon and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,578
15% above U.S.
$2,433Lowest
22% below U.S.
$4,816Highest
54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±27Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
64.3%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
29.2%±20.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Woolwich 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
U.S.: 12.5%
13.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1982Lowest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
5% below U.S.
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
24 minLowest
8% below U.S.
Work from home
13%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.9%±6.2
U.S.: 15.1%
7.8%±3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Sheldon and Woolwich 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 — #92 of 133 in ME —
School district Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 RSU 01 - LKRSU 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.