Compare towns
Benton vs Windsor 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
Benton has the most homeowners (84.2%).
Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.2%).
Fairfield has the most affordable homes ($140k 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 | Benton | Windsor | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,770 |
3,554Highest |
2,356Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±6 10% above U.S. |
44.8±6.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
34.2±7.7Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Windsor and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Fairfield and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
10.9%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windsor and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
13.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benton and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $61,437±$5kHighest 24% below U.S. |
$52,484±$11k 35% below U.S. |
$52,409±$23kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Benton and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $176,700±$23k 47% below U.S. |
$207,500±$31kHighest 38% below U.S. |
$139,600±$17kLowest 58% below U.S. |
| Windsor and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$123Highest 21% below U.S. |
$1,026±$89 27% below U.S. |
$1,013±$142Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Benton and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,758Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$5,209Highest 67% above U.S. |
$2,119 32% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±22.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.5%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45%±23.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benton and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
61.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1946 34 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 26% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor and Fairfield 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 | #85 of 133 in ME | #61 of 70 in VT | #47 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 49/MSAD 49 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.