Compare towns
Fairfax vs Cornish vs Underhill
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
Cornish has the oldest population (median age 54).
Underhill has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
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 | Fairfax | Cornish | Underhill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,226Highest |
1,816Lowest |
3,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.8±3.3 about the U.S. average |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
38.1±11.4Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.8%±10.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Underhill and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornish and Underhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fairfax and Underhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,963±$29kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$91,821±$2kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$92,267±$54k 14% above U.S. |
| Fairfax and Underhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $378,200±$22k 14% above U.S. |
$296,000±$69kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$446,000±$24kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,080±$131Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,221±$227Highest 14% below U.S. |
— |
| Cornish and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,497Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$5,796 86% above U.S. |
$6,697Highest 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±33.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±18.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairfax and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1994Highest 14 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.7%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±11.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Fairfax and Underhill 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 | — | #2 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Fairfax School District | Cornish School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.