Compare towns
Underhill vs Needham vs Jericho vs Fairfax
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Underhill has the most renters (20.2% rent).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Jericho has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
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 | Needham | Jericho | Fairfax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,141Lowest |
32,459Highest |
5,114 |
5,226 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+17%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.1±11.4Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
49.7±5.1Highest 28% above U.S. |
38.8±3.3 about the U.S. average |
| Jericho and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.8%±10.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Underhill and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jericho and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
65.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham 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±$54kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$116,923±$16k 45% above U.S. |
$128,963±$29k 60% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $446,000±$24k 34% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$493,100±$38k 48% above U.S. |
$378,200±$22kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,731±$111 23% above U.S. |
$1,080±$131Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,697 115% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,318 135% above U.S. |
$5,497Lowest 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±18.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
79.3%±52.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±33.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jericho and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1994Highest 14 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #6 of 70 in VT | #36 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Needham | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Fairfax School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | Mt. Mansfield Union High School | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
13.0Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.