Compare towns
Fairfield vs Washington vs Wallingford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairfield has the most kids (25.4% under 18).
Washington has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Wallingford has the most affordable homes ($262k 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 | Washington | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,938 |
1,208Lowest |
2,286Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
55±4.7Highest 41% above U.S. |
45.9±10.8 18% above U.S. |
| Washington 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 U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Fairfield and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.9%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Washington 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 8% above U.S. |
$89,453±$12kHighest 11% above U.S. |
$80,230±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Washington 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 4% below U.S. |
$358,600±$32kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$261,900±$44kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Washington and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,056±$441 25% below U.S. |
$1,106±$160Highest 22% below U.S. |
$891±$95Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Washington and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,816Highest 54% above U.S. |
$4,321Lowest 39% above U.S. |
$4,355 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±88.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
14.3%±13.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairfield and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Washington 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 | Washington School District | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| 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 |
U.S. 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.