Compare towns
Arlington vs Fairfax vs Waterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Arlington has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
Waterville has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
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 | Arlington | Fairfax | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,598 |
5,226Highest |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% VT: +2.8% |
+17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
38.8±3.3 10% below VT |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
| Waterville and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Arlington and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49.5% VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Waterville and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,308±$11k 26% above VT |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
| Fairfax and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,500±$59k about the VT average |
$378,200±$22kHighest 19% above VT |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
| Fairfax and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,191±$172Highest 3% below VT |
$1,080±$131Lowest 12% below VT |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
| Arlington and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549 10% below VT |
$5,497Highest 9% above VT |
$3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84% VT: 73.2% |
85.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 13% below VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Fairfax 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 | #50 of 70 in VT | #36 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Arlington School District | Fairfax School District | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | Arlington Memorial | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6Highest |
9.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.