Compare towns

Fairfield vs Arlington vs Proctor

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Arlington has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k 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.

MeasureFairfieldArlingtonProctor
People
Population
1,938
2,598Highest
1,794Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+6%
VT: +2.8%
+1.3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
42.3±2.7
about the VT average
37.6±4Lowest
13% below VT
42.4±6.4Highest
about the VT average
Proctor and Fairfield 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%
20.6%±3.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
21.8%±4.4
VT: 17.9%
Fairfield and Proctor 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%
20.7%±3.2
VT: 21.4%
22.4%±2.5Highest
VT: 21.4%
Proctor and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
30.2%
VT: 43.8%
55.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
28.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.5%±1.6
VT: 7%
3.3%±1.7Lowest
VT: 7%
3.6%±1.7Highest
VT: 7%
Proctor and Fairfield 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
$102,308±$11kHighest
26% above VT
$74,167±$12kLowest
9% below VT
Arlington 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±$22kHighest
about the VT average
$318,500±$59k
about the VT average
$209,900±$17kLowest
34% below VT
Fairfield and Arlington 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
$1,191±$172Highest
3% below VT
$1,029±$202Lowest
17% below VT
Arlington and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,816Highest
4% below VT
$4,549
10% below VT
$4,032Lowest
20% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
29.2%±20.4Lowest
VT: 48.4%
77.1%±9.5Highest
VT: 48.4%
37.3%±16.2
VT: 48.4%
Below poverty line
5.1%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
7.5%
VT: 10.1%
16.2%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.5%Highest
VT: 73.2%
84%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
86.7%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
1966
10 yrs older than VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minHighest
about the VT average
20 minLowest
13% below VT
22 min
6% below VT
Work from home
7.8%±3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
35.9%±10.8Highest
VT: 16.9%
9.4%±4.6
VT: 16.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #50 of 70 in VT —
School district Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 Arlington School District Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70
High school in town None in town Arlington Memorial Proctor Junior/Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.6Highest
8.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.