Compare towns
Fletcher vs Strafford 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 most affordable homes ($302k median).
Strafford has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Strafford | Fairfax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,196Lowest |
1,372 |
5,226Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.7±7.3 13% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
38.8±3.3Lowest 10% below VT |
| Strafford and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±4 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Strafford and Fletcher 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% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $105,833±$9kLowest 30% above VT |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
| Fairfax and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $302,100±$37kLowest 5% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$378,200±$22k 19% above VT |
| Strafford and Fairfax 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 |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,080±$131Lowest 12% below VT |
| Fletcher and Strafford 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$5,497 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±78.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Strafford 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% |
5.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 11 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 37% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Fairfax and Strafford 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 | Fletcher School District | Strafford School District | Fairfax School District |
| High school 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 | 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.