What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).

Panton has the most expensive homes ($438k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Fairfax	Panton
People
Population	5,226Highest	690Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+17%Highest VT: +2.8%	-4.6%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	38.8±3.3Lowest 10% below VT	42.7±3.8Highest about the VT average
	Panton and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9%	24.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9%
	Panton 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%	16.7%±2.9Highest VT: 21.4%
	Panton and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	49.5%Highest VT: 43.8%	35.1%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±2.6Highest VT: 7%	2.3%±1.3Lowest VT: 7%
	Fairfax and Panton 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	$86,667±$10kLowest 7% above VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$378,200±$22kLowest 19% above VT	$438,000±$40kHighest 38% above VT
	Panton and Fairfax 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	$1,410±$130Highest 14% above VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,497Lowest 9% above VT	$6,695Highest 33% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.3%±33.9Lowest VT: 48.4%	61%±39Highest VT: 48.4%
	Panton and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.1%Highest VT: 10.1%	3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.7%Highest VT: 73.2%	83.7%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT	1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 31% above VT	26 minLowest 11% above VT
Work from home	26.7%±7.6 VT: 16.9%	26.7%±8.6 VT: 16.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#36 of 70 in VT	—
School district	Fairfax School District	—
High school in town	Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax)	—
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.