Compare towns
Swanton vs Unity vs Fairfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Swanton has the most renters (22.1% rent).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
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.
| Measure | Swanton | Unity | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,820Highest |
1,375Lowest |
1,938 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.5 12% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
42.3±2.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Fairfield and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fairfield and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,371±$14kLowest about the U.S. average |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$87,019±$22k 8% above U.S. |
| Unity and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,100±$35k 14% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$320,600±$22kHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Fairfield and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,257±$133 11% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,056±$441Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Unity and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,449Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$4,816 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±20.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Unity and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.1%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Unity and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #27 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Unity School District | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.