Compare towns
Fairfield vs Colrain vs Wallingford
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Colrain has the oldest population (median age 49.6).
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 | Colrain | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,938 |
1,627Lowest |
2,286Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
45.9±10.8 18% above U.S. |
| Colrain and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.9%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colrain 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fairfield and Colrain 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 8% above U.S. |
$80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
$80,230±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Fairfield and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $320,600±$22kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$261,900±$44kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,056±$441 25% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77Highest 22% below U.S. |
$891±$95Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,816Highest 54% above U.S. |
$4,317Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$4,355 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
14.3%±13.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Colrain 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Colrain and Fairfield 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 | Mohawk Trail | 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 |
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.