Compare towns

Fairfield vs Marshfield 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).
Marshfield has the most people working from home (17.5%).
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.

MeasureFairfieldMarshfieldWallingford
People
Population
1,938
470Lowest
2,286Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
—
+2.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
42.3±2.7Lowest
about the VT average
42.4±8.8
about the VT average
45.9±10.8Highest
6% above VT
Wallingford and Marshfield 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%
19.4%±9.1
VT: 17.9%
18.7%±5Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Fairfield and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
14.3%±1.8
VT: 21.4%
10.2%±4.4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
23.9%±3.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
30.2%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
35.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
30.3%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.5%±1.6
VT: 7%
3.6%±2.4Highest
VT: 7%
1.5%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
Marshfield 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
$84,375±$20k
4% above VT
$80,230±$15kLowest
about the VT average
Fairfield and Marshfield 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
$178,300±$31kLowest
44% 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
$1,125±$79Highest
9% below VT
$891±$95Lowest
28% below VT
Marshfield 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
$3,269Lowest
35% below VT
$4,355
14% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
29.2%±20.4
VT: 48.4%
52.4%±62.4Highest
VT: 48.4%
14.3%±13.5Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Marshfield and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.1%
VT: 10.1%
4.9%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
7%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.5%Highest
VT: 73.2%
81.2%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
82.5%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1971
5 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
about the VT average
29 minHighest
24% above VT
25 min
6% above VT
Work from home
7.8%±3
VT: 16.9%
17.5%±7.2Highest
VT: 16.9%
7.1%±3.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Marshfield 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 — 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

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.