Compare towns

Fairfield vs Putnam vs Proctor

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%).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 53.6).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k 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.

MeasureFairfieldPutnamProctor
People
Population
1,938Highest
540Lowest
1,794
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-6.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.3±2.7Lowest
9% above U.S.
53.6±6.4Highest
38% above U.S.
42.4±6.4
9% above U.S.
Putnam 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
U.S.: 22%
17.4%±5.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.8%±4.4
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
35.6%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.4%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
30.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
31.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.5%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
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
8% above U.S.
$92,344±$14kHighest
14% above U.S.
$74,167±$12kLowest
8% below U.S.
Putnam 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±$22kHighest
4% below U.S.
$266,200±$48k
20% below U.S.
$209,900±$17kLowest
37% below U.S.
Fairfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,056±$441Highest
25% below U.S.
—
$1,029±$202Lowest
27% below U.S.
Fairfield and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,816Highest
54% above U.S.
$3,674Lowest
18% above U.S.
$4,032
29% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
29.2%±20.4
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.3%±16.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
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
U.S.: 12.5%
7.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
16.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minHighest
8% below U.S.
21 minLowest
19% below U.S.
22 min
16% below U.S.
Work from home
7.8%±3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.6%±5.7
U.S.: 15.1%
9.4%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Proctor and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70
High school in town None in town None in town Proctor Junior/Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
8.7
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.