Compare towns
Cambridge vs Fairfax vs Randolph
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cambridge has the youngest population (median age 37.4).
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
Randolph has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Fairfax | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,767Lowest |
5,226Highest |
4,843 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% VT: +2.8% |
+17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.4±1.8Lowest 13% below VT |
38.8±3.3 10% below VT |
40.4±7.4Highest 6% below VT |
| Randolph 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 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49.5% VT: 43.8% |
40.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6 VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,344±$19kLowest 11% below VT |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $343,000±$38k 8% above VT |
$378,200±$22kHighest 19% above VT |
$278,700±$38kLowest 12% below VT |
| Fairfax and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,183±$66Highest 4% below VT |
$1,080±$131Lowest 12% below VT |
$1,172±$173 5% below VT |
| Cambridge and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,910 about the VT average |
$5,497Highest 9% above VT |
$4,698Lowest 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.6%±7.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Cambridge and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.7% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.3% VT: 73.2% |
85.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 9 yrs newer than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 38% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
21 minLowest 12% below VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #25 of 70 in VT | #36 of 70 in VT | #55 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Cambridge School District | Fairfax School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | Randolph Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Highest |
9.4Lowest |
| 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.