What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newfields has the most expensive homes ($646k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Newfields	Fairfax
People
Population	2,023Lowest	5,226Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+17%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S.	38.8±3.3Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	24%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Fairfax and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	13.6%±0.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	12.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Newfields and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	49.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.3%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Newfields and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S.	$128,963±$29kLowest 60% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S.	$378,200±$22kLowest 14% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S.	$1,080±$131Lowest 24% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$5,497Lowest 76% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1%	43.3%±33.9 U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	5.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	85.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1991Lowest 11 yrs newer than U.S.	1994Highest 14 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	25.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	26.7%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Fairfax and Newfields 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	Newfields School District	Fairfax School District
High school 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

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.