Compare towns
Fairfield vs Jefferson 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%).
Jefferson has the most people working from home (17.5%).
Wallingford has the most affordable homes ($262k 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 | Jefferson | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,938 |
1,013Lowest |
2,286Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
45.9±10.8 18% above U.S. |
| Jefferson and Wallingford 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% |
12.5%±2.6Lowest 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% |
33.7%±9.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.9%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jefferson and Wallingford 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% |
28.4%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% |
2.2%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fairfield and Jefferson 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. |
$67,188±$13kLowest 17% 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. |
$296,700±$92k 11% below U.S. |
$261,900±$44kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Fairfield and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,056±$441Highest 25% below U.S. |
$867±$156Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$891±$95 37% below U.S. |
| Fairfield and Wallingford 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. |
$4,196Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$4,355 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±71.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
14.3%±13.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairfield and Jefferson 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% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.3Highest 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 | 14 photos → | 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.