Compare towns
Fairfield vs Cornish vs Swanton
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%).
Cornish has the most people working from home (12%).
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 | Cornish | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,938 |
1,816Lowest |
6,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
43.7±5.5 12% above U.S. |
| Cornish 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 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fairfield and Swanton 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 8% above U.S. |
$91,821±$2kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$81,371±$14kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Cornish 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 4% below U.S. |
$296,000±$69k 11% below U.S. |
$285,100±$35kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Fairfield and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,056±$441Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$1,221±$227 14% below U.S. |
$1,257±$133Highest 11% below U.S. |
| Swanton and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,816 54% above U.S. |
$5,796Highest 86% above U.S. |
$4,449Lowest 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cornish and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.1%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cornish 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 | Cornish School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| 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.