What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).

Marshall has the most affordable homes ($212k 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	Marshall
People
Population	1,938Lowest	2,163Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-7.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.3±2.7Highest 9% above U.S.	37.5±2.8Lowest 4% below U.S.
	Fairfield and Marshall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25.4%±5Lowest U.S.: 22%	27.6%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Marshall and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	12.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Fairfield and Marshall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Marshall 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±$22kLowest 8% above U.S.	$101,250±$32kHighest 25% above U.S.
	Marshall 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 4% below U.S.	$212,400±$18kLowest 36% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,056±$441Highest 25% below U.S.	$1,039±$151Lowest 26% below U.S.
	Fairfield and Marshall 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.	$3,595Lowest 15% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.2%±20.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	26.5%±28.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Fairfield and Marshall 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%	6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 8% below U.S.	21 minLowest 21% below U.S.
Work from home	7.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	10.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Marshall and Fairfield 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	WATERVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.