Compare towns
Fairfax vs Putney vs Randolph vs Underhill
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).
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
Underhill has the most expensive homes ($446k 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 | Randolph | Underhill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,226Highest |
2,622Lowest |
4,843 |
3,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±3.3 10% below VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
40.4±7.4Highest 6% below VT |
38.1±11.4 12% below VT |
| Randolph and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill 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% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.6%±6 VT: 21.4% |
| Randolph and Putney 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% |
40.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
50.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.6 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
3.5%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below VT |
$92,267±$54k 14% above VT |
| Fairfax and Underhill 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 |
$278,700±$38kLowest 12% below VT |
$446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,080±$131 12% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,172±$173Highest 5% below VT |
— |
| Randolph 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 |
$4,698Lowest 7% below VT |
$6,697Highest 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±33.9 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
6.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 31% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
21 min 12% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Fairfax and Underhill 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 | #55 of 70 in VT | #2 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Fairfax School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | None in town | Randolph Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Highest |
— | 9.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.