Compare towns
Underhill vs Dover vs Middlesex 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%).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
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.
| Measure | Underhill | Dover | Middlesex | Fairfax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,141 |
1,466Lowest |
1,943 |
5,226Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+17% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.1±11.4Lowest 12% below VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
38.8±3.3 10% below VT |
| Dover and Middlesex 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% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 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% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.1% VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex 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 |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
| Fairfax and Middlesex 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 |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$378,200±$22k 19% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,080±$131 12% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
$6,483 29% above 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% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 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 |
27 min 17% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.4%±11.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | — | #36 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 History | 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.