Compare towns
Cambridge vs Concord vs Fairfax
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cambridge has the youngest population (median age 37.4).
Concord has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
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 | Cambridge | Concord | Fairfax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,767Lowest |
44,375Highest |
5,226 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+17%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.4±1.8Lowest 4% below U.S. |
40.7±1.3Highest 5% above U.S. |
38.8±3.3 about the U.S. average |
| Concord and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Fairfax and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±1.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Concord and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Concord and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,344±$19kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$84,902±$5k 5% above U.S. |
$128,963±$29kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $343,000±$38kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$350,900±$13k 5% above U.S. |
$378,200±$22kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Fairfax and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,183±$66 16% below U.S. |
$1,441±$43Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,080±$131Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,910Lowest 57% above U.S. |
$7,227Highest 132% above U.S. |
$5,497 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.6%±7.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±5.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±33.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 6.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
56.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1994Highest 14 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±1.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #25 of 70 in VT | #89 of 120 in NH | #36 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Cambridge School District | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District | Fairfax School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Concord High School | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.0Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.