What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fairfield has the most expensive homes ($321k median).

Irasburg has the most affordable homes ($231k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Fairfield	Irasburg
People
Population	1,938Highest	1,384Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8%	+6%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	42.3±2.7Highest about the VT average	40.3±5.3Lowest 6% below VT
	Fairfield and Irasburg 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%	24.4%±3Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Fairfield and Irasburg 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%	19.5%±2Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.2%Highest VT: 43.8%	23.6%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.6Highest VT: 7%	3%±2.5Lowest VT: 7%
	Fairfield and Irasburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$87,019±$22kLowest 7% above VT	$98,534±$13kHighest 21% above VT
	Irasburg 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 about the VT average	$230,800±$22kLowest 27% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,056±$441Lowest 14% below VT	$1,063±$86Highest 14% below VT
	Irasburg 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	$3,966Lowest 21% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.2%±20.4Highest VT: 48.4%	17%±28.2Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Fairfield and Irasburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.1%Highest VT: 10.1%	2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.5%Highest VT: 73.2%	86.1%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Lowest 8 yrs newer than VT	1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest about the VT average	24 minHighest 3% above VT
Work from home	7.8%±3Highest VT: 16.9%	5.7%±2.1Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Fairfield and Irasburg 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	Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.