Compare towns
Fairfield vs Gray 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%).
Gray has the most people working from home (12.3%).
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 | Gray | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,938Lowest |
8,429Highest |
6,820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
43.7±5.5Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Swanton and Gray 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% |
19%±4Lowest 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% |
19.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Swanton and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gray 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±$22k 8% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$81,371±$14kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Gray 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±$22k 4% below U.S. |
$363,700±$20kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$285,100±$35kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,056±$441Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$1,371±$89Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,257±$133 11% below U.S. |
| Gray and Swanton 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. |
$3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,449 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray 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% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.1%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gray 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 | — | #10 of 133 in ME | #27 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.5 |
— |
| 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.