Compare towns
Fairfield vs Jay vs Proctor vs Wallingford
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).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($206k median).
Wallingford has the most renters (17.5% 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 | Jay | Proctor | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,938 |
471Lowest |
1,586 |
2,286Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
— | +2.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
47.3±8.9 10% above VT |
45.9±10.8 6% above VT |
| Jay and Proctor 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% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±5 VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
23.5%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
23.9%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wallingford and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.2% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
3.9%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Proctor 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±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$75,060±$12k 8% below VT |
$80,230±$15k about the VT 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 about the VT average |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$206,000±$20kLowest 35% below VT |
$261,900±$44k 17% below VT |
| 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 14% below VT |
— | $1,059±$200Highest 14% below VT |
$891±$95Lowest 28% below VT |
| Proctor 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 |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,944 22% below VT |
$4,355 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
39.4%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
14.3%±13.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Jay and Proctor 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% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
10%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.3% VT: 73.2% |
82.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
22 minLowest 5% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5 VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Proctor 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| 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 | 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.