Compare towns
Fairfield vs Bakersfield vs Swanton
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%).
Bakersfield has the most people working from home (14.2%).
Swanton has the most renters (22.1% rent).
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 | Bakersfield | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,938 |
1,109Lowest |
6,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
46.4±8Highest 8% above VT |
43.7±5.5 about the VT average |
| Bakersfield and Swanton 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% |
13.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Swanton 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% |
21.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Bakersfield and Swanton 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% |
39.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bakersfield 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±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
$83,462±$18k about the VT average |
$81,371±$14kLowest about the VT average |
| Fairfield and Bakersfield 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 |
$271,300±$19kLowest 14% below VT |
$285,100±$35k 10% below VT |
| Fairfield and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,056±$441Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,200±$327 about the VT average |
$1,257±$133Highest about the VT average |
| Swanton and Bakersfield 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 |
$3,823Lowest 24% below VT |
$4,449 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Swanton and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% VT: 73.2% |
94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
77.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
33 minHighest 40% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±7Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.1%±3.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Bakersfield and Swanton 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 | — | — | #27 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.