Compare towns
Fairfield vs Walden 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
Swanton has the most renters (22.1% rent).
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 | Walden | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,938 |
1,037Lowest |
6,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
48.8±3.2Highest 13% above VT |
43.7±5.5 about the VT average |
| Walden 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 VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest 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% |
20.4%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Walden 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.4% VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Walden 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 |
$88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
$81,371±$14kLowest about the VT average |
| Walden 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±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$238,900±$23kLowest 25% below VT |
$285,100±$35k 10% below VT |
| Fairfield and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,056±$441 14% below VT |
$900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,257±$133Highest about the VT average |
| Swanton 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 |
$3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,449 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Walden 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 VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
77.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
26 minHighest 10% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.1%±3.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #27 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None 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.