Compare towns
Fairfax vs Derry vs Arlington
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%).
Derry has the most renters (29.8% rent).
Arlington has the most people working from home (35.9%).
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 | Derry | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,226 |
34,116Highest |
2,598Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.8±3.3 about the U.S. average |
40.3±1.6Highest 4% above U.S. |
37.6±4Lowest 3% below U.S. |
| Derry and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Fairfax and Derry 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% |
15.2%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derry and Fairfax 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. |
$108,944±$7k 35% above U.S. |
$102,308±$11kLowest 27% above U.S. |
| Fairfax and Derry 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. |
$432,000±$17kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$318,500±$59kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,080±$131Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,547±$138Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,191±$172 16% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,497 76% above U.S. |
$8,103Highest 160% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±33.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
77.1%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1994Highest 14 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.7%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Arlington 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | #50 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Fairfax School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Arlington School District |
| High school in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | Pinkerton Academy | Arlington Memorial |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
13.9Highest |
10.6 |
| 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.