What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Westport has the most expensive homes ($1405k 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	Westport
People
Population	63,416Highest	27,528Lowest
Median age	40.1±0.9Lowest about the CT average	45.4±1.5Highest 10% above CT
Kids under 18	24%±1.3Lowest CT: 20.2%	27.9%±2.7Highest CT: 20.2%
	Westport 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%	18.5%±1.8Highest CT: 18.5%
	Westport 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%	79.9%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11%±0.7Highest CT: 7.1%	3.2%±0.8Lowest CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$172,432±$8kLowest 80% above CT	$250,001Highest 161% above CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$780,500±$32kLowest 113% above CT	$1,405,200±$124kHighest 283% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,185±$134Lowest 47% above CT	$2,509±$709Highest 69% above CT
	Westport 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%	51.8%±11Lowest CT: 52.6%
	Fairfield and Westport 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%	3.2%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.3%Lowest CT: 66.5%	88.8%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	41 minHighest 54% above CT
Work from home	28.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 16%	41.5%±3.6Highest CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#21 of 149 in CT	#3 of 149 in CT
School district	Fairfield School District	Westport School District
High school in town	Fairfield Ludlowe High School	Staples High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Highest	10.7Lowest
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.