Compare towns
Fairfield vs Sutton vs Williston vs Swanton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairfield has the most kids (25.4% under 18).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Swanton has the oldest housing (typical home built 1976).
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 | Williston | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,938 |
790Lowest |
10,144Highest |
6,820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1% VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
46.6±5.7Highest 8% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
43.7±5.5 about the VT average |
| Sutton and Williston 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% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Sutton and Williston 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% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
3%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Williston 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 |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$81,371±$14k about the VT average |
| Williston 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$285,100±$35k 10% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,056±$441Lowest 14% below VT |
— | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,257±$133 about the VT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,816 4% below VT |
$3,975Lowest 21% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$4,449 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% VT: 10.1% |
12.4% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
77.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.1%±3.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Sutton 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 | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT | #27 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.