Compare towns
Stowe vs Fairfax vs Underhill
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stowe has the most expensive homes ($648k median).
Fairfax has the highest household income ($129k).
Underhill has the most kids (27.8% under 18).
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 | Stowe | Fairfax | Underhill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,285Highest |
5,226 |
3,141Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+17% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.3±7.6Highest 7% above VT |
38.8±3.3 10% below VT |
38.1±11.4Lowest 12% below VT |
| Stowe and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±4.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
17.6%±6 VT: 21.4% |
| Stowe and Underhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
50.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±2 VT: 7% |
| Fairfax and Underhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,618±$33k 15% above VT |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
$92,267±$54kLowest 14% above VT |
| Fairfax and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$378,200±$22kLowest 19% above VT |
$446,000±$24k 41% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
$1,080±$131Lowest 12% below VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,161Highest 42% above VT |
$5,497Lowest 9% above VT |
$6,697 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.5%±15.9 VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairfax and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 18% below VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 24.4%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Fairfax and Stowe 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 | #2 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Stowe Town School District | Fairfax School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | Stowe High School | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Highest |
9.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.