Compare towns
Fairfield vs Rumney vs Swanton
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%).
Rumney has the most people working from home (14.4%).
Swanton has the most affordable homes ($285k 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.
| Measure | Fairfield | Rumney | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,938 |
1,458Lowest |
6,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
44.5±2.3Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.7±5.5 12% above U.S. |
| Rumney and Swanton 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% |
18.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Fairfield and Swanton 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% |
24.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rumney 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Rumney 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 8% above U.S. |
$79,444±$21kLowest about the U.S. average |
$81,371±$14k about the U.S. 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 4% below U.S. |
$309,800±$37k 7% below U.S. |
$285,100±$35kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Fairfield and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,056±$441Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$1,064±$100 25% below U.S. |
$1,257±$133Highest 11% below U.S. |
| Swanton and Rumney 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. |
$4,716 51% above U.S. |
$4,449Lowest 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.1%±21.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rumney 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
13%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.1%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rumney 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 | Rumney School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.