What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lowell has the most affordable homes ($183k median).

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

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	Lowell	Fairfield
People
Population	1,070Lowest	1,938Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT	42.3±2.7Highest about the VT average
Kids under 18	30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9%	25.4%±5Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Lowell and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4%	14.3%±1.8Highest VT: 21.4%
	Fairfield and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8%	30.2%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.9Lowest VT: 7%	3.5%±1.6Highest VT: 7%
	Fairfield and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$57,404±$15kLowest 29% below VT	$87,019±$22kHighest 7% above VT
	Fairfield and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT	$320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$945±$46Lowest 23% below VT	$1,056±$441Highest 14% below VT
	Fairfield and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,810Lowest 44% below VT	$4,816Highest 4% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26.3%±92.9Lowest VT: 48.4%	29.2%±20.4Highest VT: 48.4%
	Fairfield and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.6%Highest VT: 10.1%	5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.1%Highest VT: 73.2%	88.5%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984 8 yrs newer than VT	1984 8 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	55 minHighest 135% above VT	24 minLowest about the VT average
Work from home	7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9%	7.8%±3Highest VT: 16.9%
	Fairfield and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Lowell School District	Maple Run Unified Union School District #57
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.