Compare towns
Fairfield vs Andover vs Reading vs Wallingford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairfield has the most kids (25.4% under 18).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Wallingford has the most affordable homes ($262k 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.
| Measure | Fairfield | Andover | Reading | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,938 |
616Lowest |
699 |
2,286Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+2.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
45.9±10.8 6% above VT |
| Reading and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.9%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
43.3% VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Fairfield and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
$102,500±$38kHighest 26% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$80,230±$15kLowest about the VT average |
| Andover and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $320,600±$22k about the VT average |
$382,900±$68kHighest 21% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$261,900±$44kLowest 17% below VT |
| Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,056±$441 14% below VT |
$1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$891±$95Lowest 28% below VT |
| Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,816 4% below VT |
$5,190 about the VT average |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,355Lowest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
14.3%±13.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.8% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3 VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.