Compare towns
Cambridge vs Royalton 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 youngest population (median age 37.4).
Royalton has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Royalton | Fairfax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,767 |
2,752Lowest |
5,226Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% VT: +2.8% |
-0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.4±1.8Lowest 13% below VT |
43.9±10.1Highest about the VT average |
38.8±3.3 10% below VT |
| Royalton 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% |
14.4%±5.8Lowest 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% |
22.1%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Royalton 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
42.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
8%±4.2Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Royalton 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 |
$103,938±$24k 28% above VT |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
| Fairfax and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $343,000±$38k 8% above VT |
$263,200±$73kLowest 17% 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 |
$1,040±$391Lowest 16% 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 |
$4,675Lowest 7% below VT |
$5,497Highest 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.6%±7.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.3% VT: 73.2% |
63.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 9 yrs newer than VT |
1965Lowest 11 yrs older than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 38% above VT |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3 VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Fairfax and Royalton 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 | #48 of 70 in VT | #36 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Cambridge School District | White River Unified School District #79 | Fairfax School District |
| High school in town | None in town | White River Valley High School | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7Lowest |
9.8Highest |
| 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.