Compare towns
Fairfax vs Springfield vs Arlington
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%).
Springfield has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Arlington has the most people working from home (35.9%).
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 | Springfield | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,226Highest |
1,122Lowest |
2,598 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.8±3.3 about the U.S. average |
51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
37.6±4Lowest 3% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Arlington and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 60% above U.S. |
$100,893±$19kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$102,308±$11k 27% above U.S. |
| 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±$22k 14% above U.S. |
$384,100±$50kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$318,500±$59kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Springfield and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,080±$131Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,096±$217 22% below U.S. |
$1,191±$172Highest 16% below U.S. |
| Arlington and Springfield 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. |
$5,946Highest 91% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±33.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
77.1%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1994Highest 14 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.7%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Arlington 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 | — | #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 History | 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.