Compare towns
Cambridge vs Lebanon vs Wilder 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).
Lebanon has the most renters (48.8% rent).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Fairfax has the highest household income ($129k).
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 | Lebanon | Wilder | Fairfax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,767 |
14,999Highest |
3,087Lowest |
5,226 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+17% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.4±1.8Lowest 4% below U.S. |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
38.8±3.3 about the U.S. average |
| Wilder and Lebanon 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% |
14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest 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%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder and Lebanon 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% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%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% |
6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Lebanon 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. |
$98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9k 7% below U.S. |
$128,963±$29kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Fairfax and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $343,000±$38k 3% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$378,200±$22k 14% above U.S. |
| Lebanon and Fairfax 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. |
$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,142±$451 19% below U.S. |
$1,080±$131Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,910Lowest 57% above U.S. |
$8,149Highest 161% above U.S. |
$5,505 76% above U.S. |
$5,497 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.6%±7.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±33.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cambridge and Fairfax 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% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1994Highest 14 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
17 min 37% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Fairfax and Lebanon 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | — | #36 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Cambridge School District | Lebanon School District | — | Fairfax School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Lebanon High School | — | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7Highest |
— | 9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.