Compare towns
Fairfax vs Pomfret vs Sharon
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%).
Pomfret has the oldest population (median age 53.4).
Sharon has the most affordable homes ($347k 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 | Pomfret | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,226Highest |
908Lowest |
1,577 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±3.3Lowest 10% below VT |
53.4±12.1Highest 24% above VT |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
| Pomfret and Sharon 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% |
15.4%±6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax and Sharon 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% |
29.5%±6.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Pomfret and Sharon 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% |
58%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
| Fairfax and Sharon 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 |
$84,229±$8kLowest 4% above VT |
$84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
| Fairfax and Sharon 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 |
$399,200±$144kHighest 26% above VT |
$346,700±$37kLowest 10% above VT |
| Pomfret 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 |
$1,170±$98 5% below VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
| Sharon and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,497Lowest 9% above VT |
$6,722Highest 33% above VT |
$5,903 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±33.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
24%±22.4 VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairfax and Pomfret 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% |
5.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1970Lowest 6 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 31% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
26 min 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 26.7%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
30.3%±10.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Pomfret 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Sharon School District |
| 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 |
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.