Compare towns
Fairfield vs Ryegate 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%).
Ryegate has the most affordable homes ($219k median).
Wallingford has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
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 | Ryegate | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,938 |
1,059Lowest |
2,286Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
41.2±2.6Lowest 4% below VT |
45.9±10.8Highest 6% above VT |
| Wallingford and Fairfield 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% |
23.2%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Ryegate 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% |
22.1%±1.5 VT: 21.4% |
23.9%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wallingford and Ryegate 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% |
29.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.4 VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Fairfield and Ryegate 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 |
$66,484±$15kLowest 18% 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 |
$219,300±$32kLowest 31% below VT |
$261,900±$44k 17% below VT |
| Fairfield and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,056±$441Highest 14% below VT |
$908±$236 26% below VT |
$891±$95Lowest 28% below VT |
| Fairfield and Ryegate 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 |
$3,472Lowest 31% below VT |
$4,355 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
55.9%±29.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
14.3%±13.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ryegate 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% |
14.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
82.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1949Lowest 27 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3 VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ryegate and Fairfield 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 | — | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.