Compare towns
Arlington vs Stratton vs Fairfax
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%).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Fairfax has the highest household income ($129k).
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 | Stratton | Fairfax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,598 |
532Lowest |
5,226Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.6±4 13% below VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
38.8±3.3Highest 10% below VT |
| Fairfax and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Fairfax 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% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±4 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Fairfax and Arlington 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 |
$122,708±$33k 51% above VT |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
| Fairfax and Stratton 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 |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$378,200±$22k 19% above VT |
| Stratton and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,191±$172 3% below VT |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
$1,080±$131Lowest 12% below VT |
| Stratton 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 |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$5,497Highest 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9 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% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1988 12 yrs newer than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 13% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6 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 |
| High school in town | Arlington Memorial | — | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) |
| 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.