Compare towns
Fairfax vs Strafford 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
Strafford 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 | Strafford | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,226Highest |
1,372Lowest |
2,598 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±3.3 10% below VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax and Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Strafford 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Fairfax 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 |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
$102,308±$11kLowest 26% above VT |
| Fairfax and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $378,200±$22k 19% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$318,500±$59kLowest about the VT average |
| Strafford 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 12% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,191±$172Highest 3% below VT |
| Arlington and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,497 9% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,549Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±33.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Strafford 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% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
7.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 31% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 26.7%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | Strafford School District | Arlington School District |
| High school in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | None in town | Arlington Memorial |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 10.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.