Compare towns
Cambridge vs Johnson vs Fairfax
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Johnson has the most affordable homes ($169k median).
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 | Johnson | Fairfax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,767 |
3,450Lowest |
5,226Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.4±1.8 13% below VT |
30.9±6.5Lowest 28% below VT |
38.8±3.3Highest 10% below VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.3Highest 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%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
10.8%±3.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±4 VT: 21.4% |
| 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
14.4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,344±$19k 11% below VT |
$55,346±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $343,000±$38k 8% above VT |
$169,400±$62kLowest 46% below VT |
$378,200±$22kHighest 19% above 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 |
$948±$45Lowest 23% below VT |
$1,080±$131 12% below VT |
| Cambridge and Fairfax 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 |
$3,310Lowest 34% below VT |
$5,497Highest 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.6%±7.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
51.6%±20.8 VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Cambridge and Johnson 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% |
12.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.3% VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 9 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 38% above VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
31 minLowest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
8.8%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #25 of 70 in VT | #57 of 70 in VT | #36 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Cambridge School District | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Fairfax School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) |
| 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.