Compare towns
Fairfield vs Wallingford vs Waterville
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%).
Wallingford has the oldest housing (typical home built 1971).
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($236k 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.
| Measure | Fairfield | Wallingford | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,938 |
2,286Highest |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.4% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
45.9±10.8 6% above VT |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
| Waterville and Wallingford 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% |
18.7%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Waterville 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% |
23.9%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Waterville 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±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
$80,230±$15k about the VT average |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
| 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 |
$261,900±$44k 17% below VT |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% 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±$441 14% below VT |
$891±$95Lowest 28% below VT |
$1,110±$93Highest 10% below VT |
| Waterville 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 |
$4,355 14% below VT |
$3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
14.3%±13.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Waterville and Fairfield 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% |
7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.5% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 6% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3 VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Waterville 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 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| 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.