Compare towns
Bennington vs Fairfax vs Underhill
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bennington has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
Underhill has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
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 | Bennington | Fairfax | Underhill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
5,226 |
3,141Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3Highest 4% above VT |
38.8±3.3 10% below VT |
38.1±11.4Lowest 12% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±2.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±2.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
17.6%±6 VT: 21.4% |
| Bennington and Underhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.5% VT: 43.8% |
50.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.5%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
$92,267±$54k 14% above VT |
| Fairfax and Underhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $213,300±$15kLowest 33% below VT |
$378,200±$22k 19% above VT |
$446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63Highest 8% below VT |
$1,080±$131Lowest 12% below VT |
— |
| Bennington and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,513Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,497 9% above VT |
$6,697Highest 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 15 yrs older than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 27% below VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Fairfax and Underhill 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 | #58 of 70 in VT | #36 of 70 in VT | #2 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Fairfax School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
9.8Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.