What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).

Brandon has the most affordable homes ($228k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Fairfield	Brandon
People
Population	1,938Lowest	4,120Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8%	+4.1%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average	50.1±3.1Highest 16% above VT
Kids under 18	25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9%	19.2%±4.3Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Fairfield and Brandon 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%	22.3%±4.1Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.2%Lowest VT: 43.8%	32.1%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.6Highest VT: 7%	2.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 7%
	Fairfield and Brandon 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	$64,180±$12kLowest 21% below VT
	Fairfield and Brandon 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	$227,800±$23kLowest 28% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,056±$441Lowest 14% below VT	$1,064±$225Highest 14% below VT
	Brandon 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	$4,241Lowest 16% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4%	41.7%±15.1Highest VT: 48.4%
	Brandon 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%	14.2%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.5%Highest VT: 73.2%	84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT	1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest about the VT average	24 minLowest about the VT average
Work from home	7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9%	9.9%±5.7Highest VT: 16.9%
	Brandon 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	—	#69 of 70 in VT
School district	Maple Run Unified Union School District #57	Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53
High school in town	None in town	Otter Valley Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.9
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.