Compare towns
Fairfax vs Underhill vs Waterville
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%).
Underhill has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($236k 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 | Underhill | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,226Highest |
3,141 |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±3.3 10% below VT |
38.1±11.4Lowest 12% below VT |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
| Waterville and Fairfax 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% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2Lowest 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% |
17.6%±6Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Underhill and Waterville 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% |
50.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.5%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Highest 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 |
$92,267±$54k 14% above VT |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below 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 |
$446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below 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 |
$6,697Highest 33% above VT |
$3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±33.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2Highest 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% |
6.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% 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 |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 31% above VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest 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 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | None in town | 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.