Compare towns
Fairfax vs Westford vs Fairfield
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 most expensive homes ($425k median).
Fairfield has the shortest commute (24 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 | Westford | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,226Highest |
2,290 |
1,938Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±3.3Lowest 10% below VT |
44.1±8.6Highest about the VT average |
42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
| Westford and Fairfield 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% |
16.9%±4.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield 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% |
17.2%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Westford and Fairfield 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% |
52.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.6 VT: 7% |
9.5%±4.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest 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 |
$87,019±$22kLowest 7% 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 |
$320,600±$22kLowest about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,080±$131 12% below VT |
$2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
$1,056±$441Lowest 14% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,497 9% above VT |
$6,282Highest 25% above VT |
$4,816Lowest 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±33.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31 VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairfax and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
88.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1982Lowest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 31% above VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Fairfax and Westford 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 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| 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.