Compare towns
Fairfax vs Wayne vs Arlington
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%).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 62.6).
Arlington has the most people working from home (35.9%).
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 | Wayne | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,226Highest |
1,033Lowest |
2,598 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.8±3.3 about the U.S. average |
62.6±3.6Highest 61% above U.S. |
37.6±4Lowest 3% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Fairfax and Arlington 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% |
40.1%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fairfax and Arlington 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 60% above U.S. |
$90,938±$17kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$102,308±$11k 27% above U.S. |
| Fairfax and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $378,200±$22kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$266,700±$150kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$318,500±$59k 4% below U.S. |
| Fairfax and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,080±$131 24% below U.S. |
$1,031±$304Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,191±$172Highest 16% below U.S. |
| Arlington and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,497Highest 76% above U.S. |
$3,967Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$4,549 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±33.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.9%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
77.1%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Arlington 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1994Highest 14 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.7%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Arlington and Fairfax 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 | — | #50 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Fairfax School District | — | Arlington School District |
| High school in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | — | Arlington Memorial |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 10.6Highest |
| 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.