Compare towns
Cambridge vs Middlesex vs Fairfax
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 most renters (29.7% rent).
Middlesex has the oldest population (median age 44.4).
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 | Middlesex | Fairfax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,767 |
1,943Lowest |
5,226Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.4±1.8Lowest 13% below VT |
44.4±3.9Highest 3% above VT |
38.8±3.3 10% below VT |
| Middlesex 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% |
21.3%±3.1Lowest 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%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Middlesex 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% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex 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 11% below VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
| Fairfax and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $343,000±$38kLowest 8% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$378,200±$22kHighest 19% above VT |
| Fairfax and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,183±$66 4% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,080±$131Lowest 12% below VT |
| Middlesex and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,910Lowest about the VT average |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,497 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.6%±7.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9 VT: 48.4% |
| 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Lowest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 38% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Fairfax 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 | — | #36 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Cambridge School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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.