Compare towns
Fairfield vs Strafford vs Alexander
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairfield has the most kids (38.7% under 18).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Alexander has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Fairfield | Strafford | Alexander |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,801 |
1,372Lowest |
2,572Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 30.4±8.4Lowest 22% below U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
32.7±5.3 16% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 38.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
31.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Fairfield and Alexander are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Alexander are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,875±$21k 11% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$75,875±$14kLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $172,000±$16k 48% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$163,100±$17kLowest 51% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$181Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$1,277±$565Highest 10% below U.S. |
| Alexander and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,492Lowest 12% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$3,732 20% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±90 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.9%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.7%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
3.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford 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 | — | — | #295 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | Strafford School District | ALEXANDER CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | None in town | ALEXANDER MIDDLE SCHOOL-HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 5 photos → |
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.