Compare towns
Danby vs Fairfax vs Wardsboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danby has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
Wardsboro has the shortest commute (27 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 | Danby | Fairfax | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,133 |
5,226Highest |
820Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% VT: +2.8% |
+17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8Highest 22% above VT |
38.8±3.3Lowest 10% below VT |
51.6±7.3 20% above VT |
| Danby and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wardsboro and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9 VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Fairfax and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,321±$13k 5% below VT |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$41kLowest 14% below VT |
$378,200±$22kHighest 19% above VT |
$299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$166Lowest 36% below VT |
$1,080±$131 12% below VT |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,543 10% below VT |
$5,497Highest 9% above VT |
$4,345Lowest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9 VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wardsboro and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3% VT: 73.2% |
85.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #36 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Fairfax School District | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.