What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).

Shaftsbury has the most affordable homes ($267k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Fairfax	Shaftsbury
People
Population	5,226Highest	3,607Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+17%Highest VT: +2.8%	+0.2%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	38.8±3.3Lowest 10% below VT	43±6.6Highest about the VT average
	Shaftsbury and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9%	26.5%±6.3Highest VT: 17.9%
	Shaftsbury 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%	21.8%±4.8Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	49.5%Highest VT: 43.8%	40.9%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±2.6Highest VT: 7%	2.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7%
	Fairfax and Shaftsbury 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	$86,071±$24kLowest 6% above VT
	Fairfax and Shaftsbury 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	$267,300±$24kLowest 16% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,080±$131Highest 12% below VT	$1,079±$54Lowest 13% below VT
	Fairfax and Shaftsbury 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	$4,015Lowest 20% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.3%±33.9Lowest VT: 48.4%	52.7%±36Highest VT: 48.4%
	Shaftsbury 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%	9.6%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.7%Highest VT: 73.2%	82.3%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT	1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 31% above VT	25 minLowest 5% above VT
Work from home	26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9%	7.2%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#36 of 70 in VT	#62 of 70 in VT
School district	Fairfax School District	Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87
High school in town	Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax)	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.