Compare towns
Cambridge vs Durham 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 most affordable homes ($343k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Fairfax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,767Lowest |
15,080Highest |
5,226 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+17%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.4±1.8 4% below U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
38.8±3.3Highest about the U.S. average |
| Fairfax and Cambridge 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest 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%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cambridge and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,344±$19kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$128,963±$29kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Fairfax and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $343,000±$38kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$378,200±$22k 14% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,183±$66 16% below U.S. |
$1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,080±$131Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,910Lowest 57% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,497 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.6%±7.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±33.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cambridge and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1994Highest 14 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Fairfax and Durham 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 | #25 of 70 in VT | #9 of 120 in NH | #36 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Cambridge School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Fairfax School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.