Fairfield is a rural, agricultural community
Covering about 47,000 acres, Fairfield is Franklin County’s largest town. But, while it may be the biggest, it’s not the most developed, as the community strives to maintain its rural status and agricultural economy. “There’s not a lot going on, and we like it that way,” says Realtor Mona Branon with Century 21 North East, who was born and raised in Fairfield. Most of the roads are unpaved, packed with dirt, and there’s one stoplight in town. “It doesn’t even turn green, it just blinks red,” Branon says. Plus, living in such a rural community allows folks to connect with their neighbors. “I literally know every single person in town,” Branon says. “I think most of the residents in Fairfield are for-lifers.”
Community gathering places, outdoor activities from lakes to skiing
Fairfield may be remote, but the town provides residents with things to do. In a yellow Cape Cod building, Bent Northrop Memorial Library sits in the center of the area and hosts events, including story times and play groups. East Fairfield, a village in the town, has a few more community services. The nonprofit Fairfield Community Center organizes educational, health and social programs for all ages, from community meals to after-school programs. The adjacent Meeting House on the Green is in a historic 19th-century building and holds events throughout the year. The Summer Music Series is popular, as is Jig in the Valley, an annual festival where residents listen to live music, enter raffles, and eat from local food vendors.
The area also offers an abundance of outdoor activities. At the over-200-acre Elm Brook Wildlife Management Area, visitors can go birding, hiking, hunting or fishing. Nearby Fairfield Pond spans over 460 acres and is a popular spot to fish, kayak or canoe. The town is also located about 15 miles east of Lake Champlain, the largest lake in the state and the eighth largest in the country. Along the lake’s nearly 600 miles of shoreline, there are beaches, vacation home rentals, hiking trails and more. At all times of year, Jay Peak Resort, about 32 miles east, is a popular destination. The winter brings skiers to the mountain’s over 80 trails. When it’s warm, golfers tee off at the resort’s 18-hole course, kids play in the waterpark and aerial tram rides offer views of the scenic Vermont countryside — and some of Canada, too.
Homes with acreage along dirt roads
Homes in Fairfield sit on winding country backroads, and there’s a lot of elbow room between properties. “I live on a dirt road,” Brannon says. “So does pretty much everyone I know.” Potential buyers can find Colonial Revivals, farmhouses and ranch-style homes throughout the community, many of which occupy multi-acre lots. Single-family home prices can range from about $290,000 to about $940,000, depending on the size, age and condition. It’s also common to buy a plot of land and build on it, and prices may range from $100,000 to $240,000, depending on the size of the parcel.
Farming community in town, shopping and dining out of town
While Fairfield doesn’t have a lot of commercial development, it maintains a significant agricultural economy. “Farming is big here,” Branon says. “Whether it be maple sugaring, cropping — corn or hay. There are also plenty of dairy farms in the area.” Fairfield has a few other businesses, too. People can grab the essentials from Fairfield Market, a small shop and gas station in the center of town. In a rustic white building, West End Pizza has a diverse menu that includes thick-crust pies, while, on the other end of town, PuddleDock Grill & Scoop serves everything from bacon sliders to soft serve out of a quaint red food truck with outdoor picnic tables. More shopping and dining options are in Saint Albans City, roughly 8 miles east of Fairfield. Here, residents will find Price Chopper and Hannaford grocery stores, big-box retailers, car dealerships and more dining options, from fast-food to sit-down spots.
Vermont’s school choice gives students options
For kindergarten to eighth grade, students can attend Fairfield Center School, which gets a C-minus from Niche. There isn’t a high school in town, but through Vermont’s school choice program, parents and students may choose which school they’d like to attend, public or private, in or out of state, that’s approved by the Vermont Board of Education or an equal state authority. The closest school to Fairfield that serves high school students is Enosburg Falls Middle & High School, which is about 11 miles northeast. It earns a B-minus from Niche and educates sixth to 12th-grade students.
Getting around Fairfield
Fairfield is rural and car-dependent. Vermont state Route 36 is the area’s main east-west thoroughfare, cutting through the center of town. It’s about a 7-mile drive west to U.S. Interstate 89, which travels from Bow, New Hampshire, to the Canada-United States border. For air travel, Burlington International Airport is about 35 miles southwest.
Written By
Adreanna DeMarino
