Compare towns
Fairfax vs Rupert vs Sandgate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairfax has the most kids (24% under 18).
Rupert has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
Sandgate has the most affordable homes ($194k median).
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 | Rupert | Sandgate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,226Highest |
676 |
435Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 38.8±3.3Lowest 10% below VT |
57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
55.7±5.4 29% above VT |
| Rupert and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
42.3%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Rupert and Sandgate 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 VT: 43.8% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Fairfax and Sandgate 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 |
$88,229±$36k 9% above VT |
$69,167±$19kLowest 15% below VT |
| Fairfax and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $378,200±$22kHighest 19% above VT |
$362,500±$63k 14% above VT |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
| Fairfax and Rupert 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 | $5,497Highest 9% above VT |
$4,594 9% below VT |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±33.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
20%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairfax and Rupert 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% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.7% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1959 17 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 31% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 26.7%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±9.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Fairfax 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 | — | — |
| School district | Fairfax School District | — | — |
| High school in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | — | — |
| 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.