Compare towns

Fair Haven vs Fairfield vs Wallingford

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Wallingford has the oldest population (median age 45.9).

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.

MeasureFair HavenFairfieldWallingford
People
Population
2,724Highest
1,938Lowest
2,286
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+8.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+2.4%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
39.2±7.6Lowest
9% below VT
42.3±2.7
about the VT average
45.9±10.8Highest
6% above VT
Wallingford and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.4%±5.1
VT: 17.9%
25.4%±5Highest
VT: 17.9%
18.7%±5Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Fairfield and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.4%±4.5
VT: 21.4%
14.3%±1.8Lowest
VT: 21.4%
23.9%±3.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
Wallingford and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
23.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
30.2%
VT: 43.8%
30.3%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±2.9Highest
VT: 7%
3.5%±1.6
VT: 7%
1.5%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
Fair Haven and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$62,404±$16kLowest
23% below VT
$87,019±$22kHighest
7% above VT
$80,230±$15k
about the VT average
Fairfield and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$176,500±$14kLowest
44% below VT
$320,600±$22kHighest
about the VT average
$261,900±$44k
17% below VT
Fairfield and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$830±$116Lowest
33% below VT
$1,056±$441Highest
14% below VT
$891±$95
28% below VT
Fairfield and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,865Lowest
23% below VT
$4,816Highest
4% below VT
$4,355
14% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.9%±20.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
29.2%±20.4
VT: 48.4%
14.3%±13.5Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Fair Haven and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
18.9%Highest
VT: 10.1%
5.1%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
7%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.6%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
88.5%Highest
VT: 73.2%
82.5%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
1971
5 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
31% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
25 min
6% above VT
Work from home
4.3%±2.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
7.8%±3Highest
VT: 16.9%
7.1%±3.7
VT: 16.9%
Fairfield and Wallingford 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 #66 of 70 in VT — —
School district Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 Mill River Unified Union School District #52
High school in town Fair Haven Union Middle and High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.