Compare towns

Underhill vs Bakersfield vs Fairfax

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Underhill has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
Bakersfield has the most affordable homes ($271k 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.

MeasureUnderhillBakersfieldFairfax
People
Population
3,141
1,109Lowest
5,226Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.7%
VT: +2.8%
-3.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+17%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
38.1±11.4Lowest
12% below VT
46.4±8Highest
8% above VT
38.8±3.3
10% below VT
Bakersfield and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
27.8%±10.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
13.6%±3.5Lowest
VT: 17.9%
24%±5.3
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+
17.6%±6
VT: 21.4%
21.2%±3.9Highest
VT: 21.4%
12.5%±4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Bakersfield and Underhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
50.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
39.2%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
49.5%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.5%±2Lowest
VT: 7%
7.5%±4.7Highest
VT: 7%
4.3%±2.6
VT: 7%
Bakersfield and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$92,267±$54k
14% above VT
$83,462±$18kLowest
about the VT average
$128,963±$29kHighest
59% above VT
Fairfax and Underhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$446,000±$24kHighest
41% above VT
$271,300±$19kLowest
14% below VT
$378,200±$22k
19% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,200±$327Highest
about the VT average
$1,080±$131Lowest
12% below VT
Bakersfield and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,697Highest
33% above VT
$3,823Lowest
24% below VT
$5,497
9% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±18.2Lowest
VT: 48.4%
18.8%±100
VT: 48.4%
43.3%±33.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
Fairfax and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.4%
VT: 10.1%
7.3%Highest
VT: 10.1%
5.1%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.8%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
94%Highest
VT: 73.2%
85.7%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Lowest
3 yrs newer than VT
1982
6 yrs newer than VT
1994Highest
18 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
39% above VT
33 minHighest
40% above VT
31 minLowest
31% above VT
Work from home
19.4%±11.3
VT: 16.9%
14.2%±7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
26.7%±7.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
Fairfax and Underhill 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 #2 of 70 in VT — #36 of 70 in VT
School district Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 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.