Compare towns
Fairfield vs Dover 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 the most kids (25.4% under 18).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Swanton has the most affordable homes ($285k 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 | Dover | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,938 |
1,466Lowest |
6,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
43.7±5.5 about the VT average |
| Dover 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% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest 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% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.2% VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| 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±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$81,371±$14k about the VT average |
| Fairfield and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $320,600±$22k about the VT average |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$285,100±$35kLowest 10% below VT |
| Dover and Fairfield 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 |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,257±$133Highest about the VT average |
| Swanton 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 |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$4,449Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Dover and Swanton 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%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
77.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest about the VT average |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.1%±3.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #27 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | 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 |
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.