Compare towns
Fairfax vs Hardwick vs Underhill
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%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
Underhill has the most expensive homes ($446k 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 | Hardwick | Underhill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,226Highest |
2,965Lowest |
3,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±3.3 10% below VT |
47.1±7.4Highest 9% above VT |
38.1±11.4Lowest 12% below VT |
| Hardwick 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% |
15.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.6%±6 VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick and Underhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.5% VT: 43.8% |
33.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
50.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±2 VT: 7% |
| Fairfax and Underhill 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 |
$92,297±$17k 14% above VT |
$92,267±$54kLowest 14% above VT |
| Fairfax and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $378,200±$22k 19% above VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,080±$131Highest 12% below VT |
$875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
— |
| Fairfax and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,497 9% above VT |
$4,351Lowest 14% below VT |
$6,697Highest 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±33.9 VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Hardwick 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% |
9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 31% above VT |
29 minLowest 23% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | #68 of 70 in VT | #2 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Fairfax School District | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | Hazen Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Highest |
8.6Lowest |
— |
| 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.