Compare towns
Fairfax vs Exeter vs Westford
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%).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Westford has the most expensive homes ($425k 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 | Exeter | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,226Highest |
913Lowest |
2,290 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.8±3.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.7±12.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
44.1±8.6 13% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Westford 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% |
22.7%±7.1 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Fairfax and Exeter 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% |
26.9%±10.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Westford 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% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westford 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. |
$77,550±$19kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$112,750±$12k 40% above U.S. |
| Fairfax and Westford 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. |
$243,000±$89kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$424,500±$21kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,080±$131 24% below U.S. |
$867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$2,375±$1kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,497 76% above U.S. |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$6,282Highest 101% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±33.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairfax and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1994Highest 14 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.7%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Fairfax and Westford 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 | — | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| 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 | 6 photos → |
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.