Compare towns
Fairfax vs Putney vs Underhill vs Westford
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).
Underhill has the most kids (27.8% under 18).
Westford has the oldest population (median age 44.1).
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 | Underhill | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,226Highest |
2,622 |
3,141 |
2,290Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+1.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±3.3 10% below VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
38.1±11.4 12% below VT |
44.1±8.6Highest about the VT average |
| Westford 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% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.6 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%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.6%±6 VT: 21.4% |
17.2%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Putney and Underhill 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
50.1% VT: 43.8% |
52.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.6 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
9.5%±4.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$92,267±$54k 14% above VT |
$112,750±$12k 39% above VT |
| Fairfax and Westford 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±$44kLowest 5% below VT |
$446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
$424,500±$21k 34% above VT |
| Underhill and Westford 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 |
— | $2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,497 9% above VT |
$5,313Lowest 5% above VT |
$6,697Highest 33% above VT |
$6,282 25% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±33.9 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Fairfax 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% |
6.4% VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.8% VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 31% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
| Work from home | 26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3 VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9 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 | #2 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Fairfax School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| 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.