Compare towns
Sheldon vs Woolwich vs Fairfield vs Troy
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%).
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 | Woolwich | Fairfield | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
3,158Highest |
1,938 |
1,749Lowest |
| 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% |
+3.6% 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. |
44.5±5.7 14% 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% |
21.4%±3.9 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% |
17.7%±3 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% |
20.2% 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% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$102,175±$26kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$87,019±$22k 8% above U.S. |
$87,938±$11k 9% above U.S. |
| Woolwich and Troy 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±$59k 24% below U.S. |
$320,600±$22kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$233,200±$21kLowest 30% 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±$441 25% below U.S. |
$646±$323Lowest 54% 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. |
$3,644 17% 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% |
30.8%±26.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Woolwich 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
13.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% 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% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest 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 | Troy School District |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.