Compare towns
Putney vs Waterville vs Fairfax
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Waterville has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
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 | Putney | Waterville | Fairfax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622 |
680Lowest |
5,226Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
38.8±3.3 10% below VT |
| Waterville and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Putney and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
$378,200±$22kHighest 19% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,110±$93Highest 10% below VT |
$1,080±$131 12% below VT |
| Waterville and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 5% above VT |
$3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
$5,497Highest 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Fairfax and Putney 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 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | 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 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.