Compare towns
Fairfax vs Putney vs Castleton vs Richmond
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%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k 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 | Putney | Castleton | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,226Highest |
2,622Lowest |
4,453 |
4,159 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±3.3 10% below VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
43.7±5.6Highest about the VT average |
| Richmond and Fairfax 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%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Castleton 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% VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
59.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.6 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Putney and Castleton 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 |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$108,235±$24k 33% above VT |
| 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 19% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$432,200±$39kHighest 37% above VT |
| 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±$131 12% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
— |
| Castleton 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 |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±33.9 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Putney 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% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
78.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 31% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | #5 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Fairfax School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | None in town | 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 | 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.