Compare towns

Fairfield vs Proctor vs St. Albans

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
St. Albans has the most renters (51% rent).

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.

MeasureFairfieldProctorSt. Albans
People
Population
1,938
1,794Lowest
6,954Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+1.3%
VT: +2.8%
-0.6%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
42.3±2.7
about the VT average
42.4±6.4Highest
about the VT average
38.7±2Lowest
10% below VT
Proctor 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
VT: 17.9%
21.8%±4.4
VT: 17.9%
20.5%±3.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Fairfield and Proctor 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%
22.4%±2.5Highest
VT: 21.4%
13.9%±2.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
30.2%
VT: 43.8%
28.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
31.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.5%±1.6
VT: 7%
3.6%±1.7Highest
VT: 7%
2.7%±1.6Lowest
VT: 7%
Proctor 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
$74,167±$12k
9% below VT
$57,980±$7kLowest
29% below VT
Fairfield and Proctor 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
$209,900±$17kLowest
34% below VT
$263,400±$18k
17% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,056±$441
14% below VT
$1,029±$202Lowest
17% below VT
$1,150±$78Highest
7% below VT
St. Albans 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
$4,032Lowest
20% below VT
$4,436
12% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
29.2%±20.4Lowest
VT: 48.4%
37.3%±16.2
VT: 48.4%
51.8%±11.8Highest
VT: 48.4%
St. Albans and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.1%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
16.2%
VT: 10.1%
19.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.5%Highest
VT: 73.2%
86.7%
VT: 73.2%
49%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1945
31 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minHighest
about the VT average
22 minLowest
6% below VT
23 min
4% below VT
Work from home
7.8%±3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
9.4%±4.6
VT: 16.9%
12.1%±3.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
St. Albans and Proctor 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 — — #46 of 70 in VT
School district Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 Maple Run Unified Union School District #57
High school in town None in town Proctor Junior/Senior High School Bellows Free Academy (St. Albans)
Students per teacherat that high school —
8.7Lowest
11.4Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.