Compare towns
Fairfax vs Windham vs Westford
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%).
Windham has the oldest population (median age 56.5).
Westford has the most expensive homes ($425k median).
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 | Windham | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,226Highest |
1,432Lowest |
2,290 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.8±3.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
56.5±5.1Highest 45% above U.S. |
44.1±8.6 13% above U.S. |
| Windham and Westford 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% |
11.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Fairfax and Westford 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% |
31.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±5 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westford and Windham 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. |
$76,477±$17kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$112,750±$12k 40% above U.S. |
| 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 14% above U.S. |
$315,600±$74kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$424,500±$21kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,080±$131 24% below U.S. |
$850±$295Lowest 40% below U.S. |
$2,375±$1kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,497 76% above U.S. |
$3,363Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$6,282Highest 101% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±33.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.9%±35.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.8%±31Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1994Highest 14 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.7%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 |
| 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 History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.