What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fairfield has the most kids (19.8% under 18).

Clinton has the most people working from home (14.8%).

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	Clinton
People
Population	6,519Highest	3,385Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.7%Lowest ME: +2.6%	-3.3%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	43.1±4Lowest 4% below ME	50.7±4.3Highest 13% above ME
	Clinton and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.8%±3.9Highest ME: 18.1%	15.1%±6.7Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Fairfield and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.7%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4%	21.4%±5.4Highest ME: 22.4%
	Clinton and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%	17.9%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8%	4.4%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8%
	Clinton and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$64,101±$11kLowest 14% below ME	$71,458±$39kHighest 4% below ME
	Clinton and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$164,300±$28kLowest 45% below ME	$187,000±$28kHighest 37% below ME
	Clinton and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,001±$101Lowest 12% below ME	$1,177±$118Highest 3% above ME
	Clinton and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,217Highest 27% below ME	$1,910Lowest 37% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.9%±12.7Lowest ME: 48.4%	79.3%±26.4Highest ME: 48.4%
	Clinton and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.9%Highest ME: 10.7%	2.6%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%	95.1%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME	1977Highest same as ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest about the ME average	30 minHighest 21% above ME
Work from home	12.1%±5.4Lowest ME: 15.9%	14.8%±11.3Highest ME: 15.9%
	Clinton 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	#47 of 133 in ME	#116 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 49/MSAD 49 · Maine Academy of Natural Sciences	RSU 49/MSAD 49
High school in town	Lawrence High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	13.3	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME 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.