Compare towns
Arlington vs Fairfax vs Westford
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%).
Westford has the oldest population (median age 44.1).
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 | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,598 |
5,226Highest |
2,290Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% VT: +2.8% |
+17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
38.8±3.3 10% below VT |
44.1±8.6Highest about the VT average |
| Westford 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% |
16.9%±4.6Lowest 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% |
17.2%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Arlington and Westford 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6 VT: 7% |
9.5%±4.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Westford 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±$11kLowest 26% above VT |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
$112,750±$12k 39% above VT |
| Fairfax and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,500±$59kLowest about the VT average |
$378,200±$22k 19% above VT |
$424,500±$21kHighest 34% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,191±$172 3% below VT |
$1,080±$131Lowest 12% below VT |
$2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
| Westford and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,497 9% above VT |
$6,282Highest 25% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9 VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Fairfax 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% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.7% VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 13% below VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
| Work from home | 35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9Lowest 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 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| 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.