Compare towns
Fletcher vs Putney vs Middlesex vs Fairfax
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fletcher has the oldest population (median age 48.7).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
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 | Fletcher | Putney | Middlesex | Fairfax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,196Lowest |
2,622 |
1,943 |
5,226Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.7±7.3Highest 13% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
38.8±3.3 10% below VT |
| Fletcher and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±4Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Fletcher and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $105,833±$9k 30% above VT |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
| Fairfax and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $302,100±$37k 5% below VT |
$300,000±$44kLowest 5% below VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$378,200±$22kHighest 19% above VT |
| Fairfax and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,679±$427Highest 36% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,080±$131 12% below VT |
| Fletcher and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,965Lowest about the VT average |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,497 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±78.3 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 11 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 37% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — | #36 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Fletcher School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Fairfax School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.