Compare towns
Fairfax vs Middlesex vs Worcester
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%).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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 | Middlesex | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,226Highest |
1,943 |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±3.3Lowest 10% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
| Worcester and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Middlesex and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Middlesex 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 |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| Fairfax and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $378,200±$22kHighest 19% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Fairfax and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,080±$131 12% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Middlesex and Fairfax 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±33.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairfax and Worcester 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 31% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 26.7%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Fairfax 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 | — | — |
| School district | Fairfax School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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 Our Story | 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.