Compare towns
Fairfax vs Sutton vs Underhill
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%).
Sutton has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Underhill has the most expensive homes ($446k 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.
| Measure | Fairfax | Sutton | Underhill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,226Highest |
2,239Lowest |
3,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.8±3.3 about the U.S. average |
48.1±4.1Highest 24% above U.S. |
38.1±11.4Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.8%±10.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Underhill and Fairfax 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% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton and Underhill 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% |
44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sutton 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±$29k 60% above U.S. |
$130,313±$31kHighest 61% above U.S. |
$92,267±$54kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Fairfax 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. |
$362,600±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$446,000±$24kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,080±$131Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,656±$614Highest 17% above U.S. |
— |
| Sutton and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,497Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$7,652Highest 145% above U.S. |
$6,697 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±33.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±47.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±18.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairfax and Sutton 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% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1994Highest 14 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.7%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±11.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Fairfax and Underhill 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 | — | #2 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Fairfax School District | Kearsarge Regional School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | Kearsarge Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
10.4Highest |
— |
| 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.