Compare towns
Fairfax vs Putney vs Westmoreland
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).
Westmoreland has the oldest population (median age 55.3).
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 | Westmoreland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,226Highest |
2,622 |
2,237Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.8±3.3 about the U.S. average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
55.3±2.2Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
14.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.2%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% |
3.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,963±$29kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$104,444±$28k 29% above U.S. |
| Fairfax and Westmoreland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $378,200±$22kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$351,800±$12k 6% above U.S. |
| Fairfax and Westmoreland 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. |
$1,354±$280Highest 4% below U.S. |
| Westmoreland 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. |
$6,643Highest 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±33.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.5%±23.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1994Highest 14 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 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 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.7%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±6.3Lowest 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 | — |
| School district | Fairfax School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Westmoreland 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.