Compare towns
Fairfield vs Putney vs Wells vs Wallingford
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%).
Putney has the most people working from home (16.9%).
Wells has the oldest population (median age 50.7).
Wallingford has the oldest housing (typical home built 1971).
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 | Putney | Wells | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,938 |
2,622Highest |
1,148Lowest |
2,286 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6% VT: +2.8% |
+2.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
45.9±10.8 6% above VT |
| Wells and Wallingford 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% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Wallingford 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% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.9%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Wells and Wallingford 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% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$75,417±$11kLowest 7% below VT |
$80,230±$15k about the VT average |
| Fairfield and Wallingford 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 |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$243,000±$42kLowest 23% below VT |
$261,900±$44k 17% below VT |
| Fairfield and Putney 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 |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
$891±$95 28% below VT |
| Wells 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 |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
$4,355 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
14.3%±13.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Putney 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
15.5% VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Putney and Wells 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.