What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fairfield has the most affordable homes ($781k median).

Staples has the most expensive homes ($1166k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Fairfield	Staples
People
Population	63,416Highest	7,340Lowest
Median age	40.1±0.9Lowest about the CT average	48.7±2.9Highest 18% above CT
Kids under 18	24%±1.3Lowest CT: 20.2%	25.3%±3.9Highest CT: 20.2%
	Staples and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.6%±1Lowest CT: 18.5%	19.3%±3.2Highest CT: 18.5%
	Staples and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	71.1%Lowest CT: 42.5%	73%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11%±0.7Highest CT: 7.1%	4.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$172,432±$8kLowest 80% above CT	$192,656±$58kHighest 101% above CT
	Staples and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$780,500±$32kLowest 113% above CT	$1,165,500±$64kHighest 218% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,185±$134Lowest 47% above CT	$2,328±$387Highest 56% above CT
	Staples and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+ at least 51% above CT	$10,000+ at least 51% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.5%±7.7Highest CT: 52.6%	47.1%±21.1Lowest CT: 52.6%
	Fairfield and Staples are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Highest CT: 10%	4.4%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.3%Lowest CT: 66.5%	86.2%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT	1967Highest same as CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 24% above CT	43 minHighest 63% above CT
Work from home	28.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 16%	29.7%±6Highest CT: 16%
	Staples 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	#21 of 149 in CT	—
School district	Fairfield School District	—
High school in town	Fairfield Ludlowe High School	—
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

CT 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.