Compare towns

Underhill vs Dover 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).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Fairfax has the highest household income ($129k).

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.

MeasureUnderhillDoverFairfax
People
Population
3,141
1,466Lowest
5,226Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+60%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+17%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
38.1±11.4Lowest
12% below VT
53.5±8.3Highest
24% above VT
38.8±3.3
10% below VT
Kids under 18
27.8%±10.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
10.2%±5.7Lowest
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%
29.5%±6.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
12.5%±4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Dover 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%
48.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
49.5%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.5%±2
VT: 7%
2.5%±2.9Lowest
VT: 7%
4.3%±2.6Highest
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
$92,267±$54k
14% above VT
$52,313±$7kLowest
36% below VT
$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
$332,900±$55kLowest
5% above VT
$378,200±$22k
19% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$670±$49Lowest
46% below VT
$1,080±$131Highest
12% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,697Highest
33% above VT
$4,510Lowest
10% below VT
$5,497
9% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±18.2Lowest
VT: 48.4%
38.1%±17.2
VT: 48.4%
43.3%±33.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
Fairfax and Dover 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%
81.1%
VT: 73.2%
85.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Lowest
3 yrs newer than VT
1984
8 yrs newer than VT
1994Highest
18 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
39% above VT
22 minLowest
6% below VT
31 min
31% above VT
Work from home
19.4%±11.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
23.2%±11.1
VT: 16.9%
26.7%±7.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
Fairfax and Dover 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 River Valleys Unified School District #73 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 History 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.