Compare towns
Fairfax vs Sutton vs Waterville vs Underhill
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%).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Waterville has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
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 | Waterville | Underhill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,226Highest |
790 |
680Lowest |
3,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±3.3 10% below VT |
46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
38.1±11.4Lowest 12% below VT |
| Waterville and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
17.6%±6 VT: 21.4% |
| 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% VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
50.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±2 VT: 7% |
| Waterville 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 |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below VT |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
$92,267±$54k 14% above VT |
| Fairfax and Underhill 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 |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
$446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,080±$131Lowest 12% below VT |
— | $1,110±$93Highest 10% below VT |
— |
| Waterville and Fairfax 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 |
$3,975 21% below VT |
$3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
$6,697Highest 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±33.9 VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Waterville 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% |
12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 31% above VT |
30 minLowest 26% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.