Compare towns
Elmore vs Fairfax vs Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Elmore has the most affordable homes ($316k median).
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 47).
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 | Elmore | Fairfax | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 964Lowest |
5,226Highest |
1,486 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% VT: +2.8% |
+17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45±3.5 4% above VT |
38.8±3.3Lowest 10% below VT |
47±5.9Highest 9% above VT |
| Brookfield and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±9.5 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.6%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8% VT: 43.8% |
49.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Fairfax and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,750±$24k 22% above VT |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
$98,500±$23kLowest 21% above VT |
| Fairfax and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $315,800±$47kLowest about the VT average |
$378,200±$22kHighest 19% above VT |
$339,300±$15k 7% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,225±$263Highest about the VT average |
$1,080±$131 12% below VT |
$975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
| Elmore and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,066 about the VT average |
$5,497Highest 9% above VT |
$4,560Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±65.8 VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairfax and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 25% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield 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 | — | #36 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 | Fairfax School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| 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 |
— |
| 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.