Compare towns
Fairfield vs Proctor vs Swanton
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).
Swanton has the most renters (22.1% 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.
| Measure | Fairfield | Proctor | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,938 |
1,794Lowest |
6,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
43.7±5.5Highest about the VT average |
| Swanton 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%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.7Lowest 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%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Proctor 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
3%±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±$12kLowest 9% below VT |
$81,371±$14k about the VT average |
| Fairfield and Swanton 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 |
$285,100±$35k 10% below VT |
| Fairfield and Swanton 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 |
$1,029±$202Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,257±$133Highest about the VT average |
| Swanton 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 |
$4,449 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Proctor and Swanton 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% |
13% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
77.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest about the VT average |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.1%±3.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Proctor 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 | — | — | #27 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— |
| 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.