Compare towns
Fairfax vs Sandgate vs Arlington
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 highest household income ($129k).
Sandgate has the oldest population (median age 55.7).
Arlington has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Sandgate | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,226Highest |
435Lowest |
2,598 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±3.3 10% below VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax and Arlington 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% |
26%±11.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Sandgate and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.5% VT: 43.8% |
37.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Fairfax and Arlington 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 |
$69,167±$19kLowest 15% below VT |
$102,308±$11k 26% above VT |
| Fairfax and Arlington 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 |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
$318,500±$59k about the VT average |
| Fairfax and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,080±$131Lowest 12% below VT |
— | $1,191±$172Highest 3% below VT |
| Arlington 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 |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$4,549 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±33.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington 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 VT: 10.1% |
9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1966 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 31% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 26.7%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4 VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Sandgate 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 | — | #50 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Fairfax School District | — | Arlington School District |
| High school in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | — | Arlington Memorial |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 10.6Highest |
| 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.