Compare towns
Fairfax vs Putney vs Walpole
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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).
Walpole has the oldest population (median age 46.5).
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 | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,226Highest |
2,622Lowest |
3,690 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.8±3.3 about the U.S. average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
46.5±10.4Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Walpole 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Fairfax and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Walpole 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,963±$29kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$82,617±$16k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $378,200±$22kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$319,800±$48k 4% below U.S. |
| Fairfax and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,080±$131 24% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,165±$150Highest 18% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,497 76% above U.S. |
$5,313Lowest 70% above U.S. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±33.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1994Highest 14 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.7%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Fairfax and Putney 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 | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fairfax School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Fall Mountain Regional 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 Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.