Compare towns
Fairfax vs Stratton vs Winhall
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).
Winhall has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
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 | Stratton | Winhall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,226Highest |
532Lowest |
752 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +53.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±3.3 10% below VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
48.9±6.1Highest 13% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
17%±6.8Lowest 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% |
20.6%±5.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Winhall and Fairfax 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% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
67.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Fairfax and Winhall 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 |
$95,500±$23kLowest 18% above 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±$22kLowest 19% above VT |
$400,000±$50k 26% above VT |
$471,800±$55kHighest 49% above VT |
| Winhall and Stratton 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±$979Highest about the VT average |
$1,094±$732 11% below VT |
| Stratton and Winhall 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 |
$4,750Lowest 6% below VT |
$6,567Highest 30% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±33.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.5%±38.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairfax and Winhall 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% |
5.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1988 12 yrs newer than VT |
1982Lowest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 31% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
27 minLowest 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.4%±9 VT: 16.9% |
| Fairfax and Winhall 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 | — | — |
| School district | Fairfax School District | — | — |
| High school in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
— | — |
| 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.