What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).

Topsham has the most affordable homes ($223k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Fairfax	Topsham
People
Population	5,226Highest	999Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+17%Highest VT: +2.8%	+2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	38.8±3.3Lowest 10% below VT	50.1±5.9Highest 16% above VT
Kids under 18	24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9%	18%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Fairfax and Topsham 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%	23.2%±4.8Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	49.5%Highest VT: 43.8%	28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±2.6Highest VT: 7%	1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7%
	Fairfax and Topsham 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	$72,308±$60kLowest 11% below VT
	Fairfax and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$378,200±$22kHighest 19% above VT	$222,900±$56kLowest 30% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,080±$131Highest 12% below VT	$908±$398Lowest 26% below VT
	Fairfax and Topsham 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	$4,006Lowest 21% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.3%±33.9Lowest VT: 48.4%	91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4%
	Topsham and Fairfax 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%	18.8%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.7%Lowest VT: 73.2%	90.3%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT	1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 31% above VT	35 minHighest 49% above VT
Work from home	26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9%	14.2%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Fairfax and Topsham 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	Waits River Union High District #36
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

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.