Compare towns
Fairfax vs Wayne vs Windham
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 most affordable homes ($267k median).
Windham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,226Highest |
1,033Lowest |
1,432 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.8±3.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
62.6±3.6Highest 61% above U.S. |
56.5±5.1 45% above U.S. |
| Wayne and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3 U.S.: 22% |
11.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 12.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
40.1%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.4%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wayne and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windham 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 60% above U.S. |
$90,938±$17k 13% above U.S. |
$76,477±$17kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Fairfax and Wayne 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. |
$315,600±$74k 5% below U.S. |
| Fairfax and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,080±$131Highest 24% below U.S. |
$1,031±$304 27% below U.S. |
$850±$295Lowest 40% below U.S. |
| Fairfax and Wayne 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. |
$3,967 27% above U.S. |
$3,363Lowest 8% 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% |
68.9%±35.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham 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% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1994Highest 14 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 26.7%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Fairfax and Windham 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 | — | — |
| High school in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
— | — |
| 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.