What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Fairfield	Waterville
People
Population	1,938Highest	680Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8%	+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average	49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT
	Waterville 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%	20.4%±8.2Lowest 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%	14.4%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4%
	Waterville and Fairfield 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 VT: 43.8%	32.1%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.6Lowest 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	$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT
	Fairfield and Waterville 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	$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,056±$441Lowest 14% 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	$3,957Lowest 21% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.2%±20.4Lowest 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%Highest VT: 10.1%	4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.5%Highest VT: 73.2%	79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT	1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest about the VT average	38 minHighest 60% above VT
Work from home	7.8%±3Lowest 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	Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.