Compare towns
Fairfax vs Putney vs Wells
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).
Wells has the oldest population (median age 50.7).
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 | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,226Highest |
2,622 |
1,148Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±3.3 10% below VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax and Putney 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% |
24.5%±2.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.6 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$75,417±$11kLowest 7% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $378,200±$22kHighest 19% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$243,000±$42kLowest 23% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,080±$131 12% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
| Wells and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,497Highest 9% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±33.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Putney 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% |
15.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 31% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — |
| School district | Fairfax School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| 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 |
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.