Compare towns
Sutton vs Fairfax vs Wheelock vs Sheffield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the oldest housing (typical home built 1979).
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
Wheelock has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k 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 | Sutton | Fairfax | Wheelock | Sheffield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790 |
5,226Highest |
717 |
573Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
38.8±3.3Lowest 10% below VT |
51±5.6Highest 18% above VT |
42±8 about the VT average |
| Wheelock and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.2%±4 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8% VT: 43.8% |
49.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
27.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
5.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Sheffield and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$18k 12% below VT |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
$64,792±$20k 20% below VT |
$58,333±$26kLowest 28% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $231,100±$41k 27% below VT |
$378,200±$22kHighest 19% above VT |
$189,600±$37k 40% below VT |
$171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,080±$131Highest 12% below VT |
— | $967±$79Lowest 22% below VT |
| Fairfax and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,975 21% below VT |
$5,497Highest 9% above VT |
$2,937 42% below VT |
$2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61.5%±41.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Sheffield and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
6.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% VT: 73.2% |
85.7% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1989 13 yrs newer than VT |
1987 11 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
28 minLowest 17% above VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16 VT: 16.9% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Fairfax and Wheelock 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 | — | #36 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Fairfax School District | — | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— | — |
| 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.