Compare towns
Fairfax vs Westford vs Arlington
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%).
Westford has the oldest population (median age 44.1).
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 | Westford | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,226Highest |
2,290Lowest |
2,598 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±3.3 10% below VT |
44.1±8.6Highest about the VT average |
37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
| Westford and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
17.2%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Arlington and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.3% VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.6 VT: 7% |
9.5%±4.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Westford 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 |
$112,750±$12k 39% above VT |
$102,308±$11kLowest 26% above VT |
| Fairfax and Westford 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 |
$424,500±$21kHighest 34% above VT |
$318,500±$59kLowest about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,080±$131Lowest 12% below VT |
$2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
$1,191±$172 3% below VT |
| Westford and Arlington 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 |
$6,282Highest 25% above VT |
$4,549Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±33.9 VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31Lowest VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7% VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 31% above VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 26.7%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Arlington School District |
| High school in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | None in town | Arlington Memorial |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 10.6Highest |
| 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.