Compare towns
Fairfax vs Jericho vs Northfield
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 most expensive homes ($493k median).
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($274k 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 | Jericho | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,226 |
5,114Lowest |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±3.3 10% below VT |
49.7±5.1Highest 15% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax and Jericho 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%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Jericho and Northfield 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% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
$116,923±$16k 44% above VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below 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 |
$274,400±$21kLowest 13% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,080±$131 12% below VT |
$1,731±$111Highest 40% above VT |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,497 9% above VT |
$7,318Highest 45% above VT |
$4,878Lowest 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±33.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
79.3%±52.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Jericho and Northfield 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% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 31% above VT |
26 minLowest 10% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.8%±6.4 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest 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 | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Fairfax School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | Mt. Mansfield Union High School | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
13.0Highest |
10.0 |
| 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.