Compare towns
Fairfax vs Jericho vs Castleton 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%).
Jericho has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
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 | Jericho | Castleton | Underhill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,226Highest |
5,114 |
4,453 |
3,141Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±3.3 10% below VT |
49.7±5.1Highest 15% above VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
38.1±11.4Lowest 12% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest 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% |
20.2%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.6%±6 VT: 21.4% |
| Castleton and Jericho 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% |
65.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
50.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
$116,923±$16k 44% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$92,267±$54k 14% above VT |
| Fairfax and Jericho 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 |
$493,100±$38kHighest 56% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$446,000±$24k 41% above VT |
| Jericho 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 12% below VT |
$1,731±$111Highest 40% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,497 9% above VT |
$7,318Highest 45% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$6,697 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±33.9 VT: 48.4% |
79.3%±52.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Jericho and Castleton 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% |
0.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 31% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.8%±6.4 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Fairfax and Jericho 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 | #6 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | #2 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Fairfax School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | Mt. Mansfield Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
13.0Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.