Compare towns
Fairfield vs Waterville vs Arlington
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%).
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Arlington has the most people working from home (35.9%).
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 | Waterville | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,938 |
680Lowest |
2,598Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
37.6±4Lowest 13% below 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% |
20.6%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Arlington 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%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Arlington and Waterville 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% VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest 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±$22k 7% above VT |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
$102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
| Arlington 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 |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
$318,500±$59k about the VT average |
| Fairfield and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,056±$441Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
$1,191±$172Highest 3% below VT |
| Arlington and Waterville 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 |
$4,549 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Waterville 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% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3 VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #50 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Arlington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Arlington Memorial |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
| 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.