Compare towns
Fairfax vs White River Junction vs Calais
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%).
White River Junction has the shortest commute (15 min average).
Calais has the oldest population (median age 42).
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 | White River Junction | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,226Highest |
3,364 |
1,713Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+10.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±3.3 10% below VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
42±8.6Highest about the VT average |
| Calais 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% |
17.1%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax and Calais 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% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Calais and Fairfax 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% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.6 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Calais 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 |
$77,168±$4kLowest 5% below VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
| Fairfax and Calais 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 |
$278,800±$78kLowest 12% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
| Calais and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,080±$131Lowest 12% below VT |
$1,222±$216 about the VT average |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| Calais and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,497Lowest 9% above VT |
$5,651 12% above VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±33.9 VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Calais 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 VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7% VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 31% above VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Fairfax and Calais 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | — | 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.