Compare towns
Sutton vs Sheldon vs Fairfield vs Wheelock
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 most renters (15% rent).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Wheelock has the most people working from home (21.1%).
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.
| Measure | Sutton | Sheldon | Fairfield | Wheelock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790 |
2,267Highest |
1,938 |
717Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
51±5.6Highest 18% above VT |
| 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%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5 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+ | 21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8 VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
34.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Fairfield and Wheelock 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 |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$87,019±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below VT |
| Fairfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $231,100±$41k 27% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
| 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 4% above VT |
$1,056±$441Lowest 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 | $3,975 21% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$4,816Highest 4% below VT |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Sutton and Fairfield 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 26% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Wheelock and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | 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.