Compare towns
Underhill vs Brookfield vs Castleton 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).
Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 47).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 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 | Underhill | Brookfield | Castleton | Fairfax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,141 |
1,486Lowest |
4,453 |
5,226Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.1±11.4Lowest 12% below VT |
47±5.9Highest 9% above VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
38.8±3.3 10% below VT |
| Brookfield 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% |
18.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest 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% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Castleton 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% |
45.3% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2 VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,267±$54k 14% above VT |
$98,500±$23k 21% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
| Fairfax and Brookfield 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 |
$339,300±$15k 7% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$378,200±$22k 19% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$1,080±$131 12% below VT |
| Castleton 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 |
$4,560 10% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,497 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Fairfax 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% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 39% above VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.4%±11.3 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Fairfax 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #36 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Fairfax School District |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.