Compare towns
Fairfax vs Lancaster vs Richmond
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%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Richmond has the most expensive homes ($432k 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 | Lancaster | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,226Highest |
3,216Lowest |
4,159 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.8±3.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.5±6.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
43.7±5.6 12% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Fairfax and Richmond 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% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fairfax and Lancaster 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. |
$68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$108,235±$24k 34% above U.S. |
| Fairfax and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $378,200±$22k 14% above U.S. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$432,200±$39kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Richmond and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,080±$131Highest 24% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
— |
| Fairfax and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,497 76% above U.S. |
$4,226Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$6,868Highest 120% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±33.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairfax and Lancaster 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% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1994Highest 14 yrs newer than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.7%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Fairfax and Richmond 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 | #107 of 120 in NH | #5 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Fairfax School District | White Mountains Regional 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 | None yet | 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.