Compare towns
Fairfield vs Strafford vs Norway
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).
Norway has the most homeowners (96.3%).
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 | Norway |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,801Highest |
1,372 |
930Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 30.4±8.4Lowest 22% below U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
40.5±9.2 4% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Norway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 38.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.8%±2.6Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
12.7%Lowest 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% |
1.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Norway 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. |
$79,844±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$169,900±$23kLowest 49% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$181Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789Highest 20% below U.S. |
— |
| Strafford and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,492 12% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$3,116Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±90 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.7%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±4Lowest 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 | |||
| School district | — | Strafford School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.