Compare towns
Fairfax vs Hancock 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%).
Hancock has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
Underhill has the most kids (27.8% under 18).
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 | Hancock | Underhill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,226Highest |
1,791Lowest |
3,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.8±3.3 about the U.S. average |
53.8±4.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
38.1±11.4Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±2.2Lowest 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%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fairfax and Hancock 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. |
$95,208±$15k 18% above U.S. |
$92,267±$54kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Fairfax and Hancock 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. |
$436,700±$22k 31% above U.S. |
$446,000±$24kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Underhill and Hancock 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. |
$1,208±$650Highest 15% below U.S. |
— |
| Hancock and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,497Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$6,884Highest 121% above U.S. |
$6,697 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±33.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.4%±55.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±18.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairfax and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1994Highest 14 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.7%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±11.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Fairfax and Underhill 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 | — | #2 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Fairfax School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 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.