Compare towns
Fairfield vs Plainfield vs Swanton
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%).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Swanton has the most affordable homes ($285k 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 | Plainfield | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,938Lowest |
2,522 |
6,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7 9% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.7±5.5Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Swanton and Fairfield 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% |
23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Fairfield and Plainfield 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% |
19.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield and Swanton 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% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield 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±$22k 8% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$81,371±$14kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $320,600±$22k 4% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$285,100±$35kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,056±$441Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,257±$133 11% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,816 54% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$4,449Lowest 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Swanton and Plainfield 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% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
13%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
23 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.1%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 120 in NH | #27 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Plainfield School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| 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 |
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.