Compare towns

Fairfield vs Hampton 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%).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Wallingford has the oldest population (median age 45.9).

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.

MeasureFairfieldHamptonWallingford
People
Population
1,938
1,145Lowest
2,286Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-8.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.3±2.7Lowest
9% above U.S.
43.1±14.7
11% above U.S.
45.9±10.8Highest
18% above U.S.
Wallingford and Hampton 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%
15.9%±6.9Lowest
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%
20.6%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
23.9%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Wallingford and Hampton 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%
15.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
30.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.5%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±3.1
U.S.: 6.4%
1.5%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Fairfield and Hampton 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.
$73,796±$8kLowest
9% below U.S.
$80,230±$15k
about the U.S. average
Fairfield and Wallingford 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.
$166,800±$10kLowest
50% below U.S.
$261,900±$44k
21% below U.S.
Fairfield and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,056±$441
25% below U.S.
$1,264±$375Highest
11% below U.S.
$891±$95Lowest
37% below U.S.
Hampton 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.
$3,007Lowest
4% below U.S.
$4,355
40% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
29.2%±20.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
13.2%±25.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
14.3%±13.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Fairfield and Wallingford 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%
16.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
8% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
25 min
6% below U.S.
Work from home
7.8%±3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.8%±8.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.1%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
School district Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 — Mill River Unified Union School District #52
High school 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.