Compare towns
Fairfield vs Underhill vs Walden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Underhill has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
Walden has the most affordable homes ($239k 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 | Fairfield | Underhill | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,938 |
3,141Highest |
1,037Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
38.1±11.4Lowest 12% below VT |
48.8±3.2Highest 13% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5 VT: 17.9% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
17.6%±6 VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Walden and Underhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.2% VT: 43.8% |
50.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Walden and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$22kLowest 7% above VT |
$92,267±$54kHighest 14% above VT |
$88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
| Underhill and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $320,600±$22k about the VT average |
$446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
$238,900±$23kLowest 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,056±$441Highest 14% below VT |
— | $900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
| Fairfield and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,816 4% below VT |
$6,697Highest 33% above VT |
$3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Walden and Fairfield 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% |
6.4% VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% VT: 73.2% |
79.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3 VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Walden and Underhill 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 | — | #2 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.