Compare towns
Fairfield vs Nelson vs Bradford
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%).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Bradford has the most affordable homes ($259k 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 | Nelson | Bradford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,938 |
648Lowest |
2,827Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
42.7±3.1Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Bradford and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Fairfield 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% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.7%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fairfield and Nelson 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. |
$99,792±$23k 24% above U.S. |
$108,162±$15kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Bradford and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $320,600±$22k 4% below U.S. |
$340,900±$49kHighest about the U.S. average |
$258,600±$30kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Nelson and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,056±$441Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
$1,221±$808Highest 14% below U.S. |
| Bradford and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,816 54% above U.S. |
$5,575Highest 79% above U.S. |
$4,472Lowest 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.9%±23.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Nelson and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.7%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #45 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Nelson School District | Oxbow Unified Union School District #91 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Oxbow Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.