Compare towns
Fairfax vs Stratton vs Wardsboro
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 people working from home (26.7%).
Stratton has the youngest population (median age 31.5).
Wardsboro has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
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 | Stratton | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,226Highest |
532Lowest |
820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±3.3 10% below VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
51.6±7.3Highest 20% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.5%±4 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Fairfax and Stratton 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 |
$122,708±$33k 51% above VT |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
| Fairfax and Stratton 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 |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$299,300±$47kLowest 5% below VT |
| Stratton 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 |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
| Wardsboro and Stratton 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 |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$4,345Lowest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±33.9 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wardsboro and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1988 12 yrs newer than VT |
1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 31% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #36 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Fairfax School District | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| 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 | 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.