What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).

Shaftsbury has the most affordable homes ($267k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Fairfield	Shaftsbury
People
Population	1,938Lowest	3,607Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8%	+0.2%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average	43±6.6Highest about the VT average
	Shaftsbury and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25.4%±5Lowest VT: 17.9%	26.5%±6.3Highest VT: 17.9%
	Shaftsbury and Fairfield 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%	21.8%±4.8Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.2%Lowest VT: 43.8%	40.9%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.6Highest VT: 7%	2.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7%
	Fairfield and Shaftsbury 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	$86,071±$24kLowest 6% above VT
	Fairfield and Shaftsbury 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	$267,300±$24kLowest 16% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,056±$441Lowest 14% below VT	$1,079±$54Highest 13% below VT
	Shaftsbury 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	$4,015Lowest 20% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4%	52.7%±36Highest VT: 48.4%
	Shaftsbury 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%	9.6%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.5%Highest VT: 73.2%	82.3%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT	1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest about the VT average	25 minHighest 5% above VT
Work from home	7.8%±3Highest VT: 16.9%	7.2%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Fairfield and Shaftsbury 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	—	#62 of 70 in VT
School district	Maple Run Unified Union School District #57	Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.