Compare towns
Fairfax vs Fletcher vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
Fletcher has the most homeowners (96.1%).
Westminster has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Fletcher | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,226Highest |
1,196Lowest |
2,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.4% VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±3.3Lowest 10% below VT |
48.7±7.3 13% above VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
| Westminster and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
19%±4 VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±4 VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.6 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Westminster 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 59% above VT |
$105,833±$9k 30% above VT |
$71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
| Fairfax and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $378,200±$22kHighest 19% above VT |
$302,100±$37k 5% below VT |
$273,800±$35kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,080±$131 12% below VT |
$1,679±$427Highest 36% above VT |
$916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,497Highest 9% above VT |
$4,965 about the VT average |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±33.9 VT: 48.4% |
42.1%±78.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Westminster and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1987 11 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 31% above VT |
32 minHighest 37% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 26.7%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster 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 | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Fairfax School District | Fletcher School District | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 10.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.