Compare towns
Fairfax vs Richmond 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%).
Richmond has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Underhill has the most kids (27.8% under 18).
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 | Richmond | Underhill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,226Highest |
4,159 |
3,141Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±3.3 10% below VT |
43.7±5.6Highest about the VT average |
38.1±11.4Lowest 12% below VT |
| Richmond 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% |
21.5%±5Lowest 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% |
19.5%±6.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.6%±6 VT: 21.4% |
| Richmond 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
59.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
50.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±2 VT: 7% |
| Fairfax and Underhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
$108,235±$24k 33% above VT |
$92,267±$54kLowest 14% above VT |
| Fairfax and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $378,200±$22kLowest 19% above VT |
$432,200±$39k 37% above VT |
$446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
| Underhill and Richmond 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 |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,497Lowest 9% above VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$6,697 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±33.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairfax and Richmond 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% |
4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 31% above VT |
25 minLowest 6% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Fairfax and Richmond 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 | #5 of 70 in VT | #2 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Fairfax School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| 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.