Compare towns
Essex 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
Essex has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
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 | Essex | Middlesex | Fairfax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,516Highest |
1,943Lowest |
5,226 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.8% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.9 about the VT average |
44.4±3.9Highest 3% above VT |
38.8±3.3Lowest 10% below VT |
| Middlesex and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Middlesex and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
49.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±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 | $110,199±$14k 36% above VT |
$109,632±$13kLowest 35% above VT |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
| Fairfax and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $447,300±$14kHighest 41% above VT |
$376,300±$40kLowest 19% above VT |
$378,200±$22k 19% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,569±$138Highest 27% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,080±$131Lowest 12% below VT |
| Essex and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,602Highest 31% above VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$5,497Lowest 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.9%±13.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Essex and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990 14 yrs newer than VT |
1986Lowest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.5%±5.8Lowest 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 | #13 of 70 in VT | — | #36 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | 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.