Compare towns
Staples vs Westport vs Fairfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Staples has the oldest population (median age 48.7).
Westport has the most people working from home (41.5%).
Fairfield has the most affordable homes ($781k 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 | Staples | Westport | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,340Lowest |
27,528 |
63,416Highest |
| Median age | 48.7±2.9Highest 18% above CT |
45.4±1.5 10% above CT |
40.1±0.9Lowest about the CT average |
| Staples and Westport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.3%±3.9 CT: 20.2% |
27.9%±2.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
24%±1.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Westport and Staples are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±3.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±1.8 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Staples and Westport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 73% CT: 42.5% |
79.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
71.1%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
3.2%±0.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
11%±0.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $192,656±$58k 101% above CT |
$250,001Highest 161% above CT |
$172,432±$8kLowest 80% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,165,500±$64k 218% above CT |
$1,405,200±$124kHighest 283% above CT |
$780,500±$32kLowest 113% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,328±$387 56% above CT |
$2,509±$709Highest 69% above CT |
$2,185±$134Lowest 47% above CT |
| Westport and Staples are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 51% above CT |
$10,000+ at least 51% above CT |
$10,000+ at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.1%±21.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51.8%±11 CT: 52.6% |
53.5%±7.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Fairfield and Westport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% CT: 10% |
3.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
4.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.2% CT: 66.5% |
88.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest same as CT |
1967Highest same as CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 43 minHighest 63% above CT |
41 min 54% above CT |
33 minLowest 24% above CT |
| Work from home | 29.7%±6 CT: 16% |
41.5%±3.6Highest CT: 16% |
28.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #3 of 149 in CT | #21 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Westport School District | Fairfield School District |
| High school in town | — | Staples High School | Fairfield Ludlowe High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT 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.