What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).

Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Fairfax	Dorset
People
Population	5,226Highest	2,092Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+17%Highest VT: +2.8%	+5%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	38.8±3.3Lowest 10% below VT	45.9±7.5Highest 6% above VT
	Dorset and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24%±5.3 VT: 17.9%	24%±5.5 VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4%	21.9%±4.5Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	49.5%Lowest VT: 43.8%	72.1%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±2.6Highest VT: 7%	2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7%
	Fairfax and Dorset 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 59% above VT	$111,250±$40kLowest 37% above VT
	Fairfax and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$378,200±$22kLowest 19% above VT	$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,080±$131Lowest 12% below VT	$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT
	Dorset and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,497Lowest 9% above VT	$7,489Highest 49% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.3%±33.9Lowest VT: 48.4%	74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4%
	Dorset and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1%	11.2%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.7%Lowest VT: 73.2%	90.7%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT	1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 31% above VT	22 minLowest 8% below VT
Work from home	26.7%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9%	29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9%
	Dorset 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	Fairfax School District	Taconic and Green Regional School District #63
High school 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 History	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.