Compare towns
Fairfield vs Proctor vs Stowe
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).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
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 | Proctor | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,938 |
1,794Lowest |
5,285Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
46.3±7.6Highest 7% above VT |
| Stowe and Proctor 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%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Stowe and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.2% VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±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±$22k 7% above VT |
$74,167±$12kLowest 9% below VT |
$93,618±$33kHighest 15% above VT |
| Stowe 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±$22k about the VT average |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,056±$441 14% below VT |
$1,029±$202Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
| Stowe and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,816 4% below VT |
$4,032Lowest 20% below VT |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Proctor and Fairfield 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
78.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest about the VT average |
22 min 6% below VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Stowe Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | Stowe High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7Lowest |
11.3Highest |
| 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.