What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stamford has the oldest population (median age 49.4).

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	Stamford	Fairfield
People
Population	963Lowest	1,938Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.5%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	49.4±5.5Highest 15% above VT	42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average
	Stamford and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9%	25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9%
	Fairfield and Stamford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.5%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4%	14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34%Highest VT: 43.8%	30.2%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±3.4Highest VT: 7%	3.5%±1.6Lowest VT: 7%
	Stamford and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,646±$9kHighest 9% above VT	$87,019±$22kLowest 7% above VT
	Stamford and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$303,200±$25kLowest 4% below VT	$320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average
	Fairfield and Stamford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,583±$935Highest 28% above VT	$1,056±$441Lowest 14% below VT
	Stamford and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,113Highest about the VT average	$4,816Lowest 4% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	28.6%±100Lowest VT: 48.4%	29.2%±20.4Highest VT: 48.4%
	Fairfield and Stamford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.3%Highest VT: 10.1%	5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.4%Highest VT: 73.2%	88.5%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT	1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 30% above VT	24 minLowest about the VT average
Work from home	8.1%±2.9Highest VT: 16.9%	7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Stamford and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Stamford 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.