Compare towns
Waterville vs Salisbury vs Fairfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Salisbury has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Fairfield has the most kids (25.4% under 18).
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 | Waterville | Salisbury | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 680Lowest |
1,200 |
1,938Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.5% VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
50.6±6.5Highest 17% above VT |
42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
| Salisbury and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±2.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 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 | $71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
$99,688±$21kHighest 23% above VT |
$87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
| Salisbury and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
$306,900±$51k 3% below VT |
$320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
| Fairfield and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93 10% below VT |
$1,443±$984Highest 17% above VT |
$1,056±$441Lowest 14% below VT |
| Salisbury and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
$4,842Highest 4% below VT |
$4,816 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6 VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Waterville and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
19 minLowest 20% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Highest VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3 VT: 16.9% |
| Waterville and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | 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 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.