Compare towns
Fairfax vs Durham 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%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Underhill has the most kids (27.8% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Underhill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,226 |
15,080Highest |
3,141Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.8±3.3Highest about the U.S. average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
38.1±11.4 about the U.S. average |
| Fairfax and Underhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest 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%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Underhill and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,963±$29kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$92,267±$54kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Fairfax and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $378,200±$22kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$446,000±$24k 34% above U.S. |
| Durham and Underhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,080±$131Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,497Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,697 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±33.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±18.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1994Highest 14 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.7%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Fairfax and Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #2 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Fairfax School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
12.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.