Compare towns
Bolton vs Fairfax vs Barnard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bolton has the most affordable homes ($312k median).
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
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 | Bolton | Fairfax | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,163Lowest |
5,226Highest |
1,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% VT: +2.8% |
+17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.3±1.7Lowest 16% below VT |
38.8±3.3 10% below VT |
42.4±6Highest about the VT average |
| Barnard and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 6.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±4 VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.8 VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Fairfax and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,125±$17k 37% above VT |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
$97,581±$19kLowest 20% above VT |
| Fairfax and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,600±$42kLowest about the VT average |
$378,200±$22k 19% above VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
| Barnard and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$273 5% above VT |
$1,080±$131Lowest 12% below VT |
$1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
| Barnard and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,826Lowest 4% below VT |
$5,497 9% above VT |
$6,038Highest 20% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28%±30.8 VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairfax and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 17% above VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
29 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Fairfax and Bolton 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 | — | #36 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Fairfax School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.