Compare towns
Fairfield vs Sutton vs Calais
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%).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
Calais has the most people working from home (23.4%).
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 | Sutton | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,938Highest |
790Lowest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
46.6±5.7Highest 8% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Sutton 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% |
17.3%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Calais 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% |
21.6%±2.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Calais 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 7% above VT |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
| Calais 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±$22k about the VT average |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,056±$441Lowest 14% below VT |
— | $1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| Calais 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 |
$3,975Lowest 21% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Sutton 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% |
12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% VT: 73.2% |
85%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
30 min 26% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Sutton 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.