Compare towns
Underhill vs Saco 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 kids (27.8% under 18).
Saco has the shortest commute (24 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 | Saco | Fairfax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,141Lowest |
20,819Highest |
5,226 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+17%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.1±11.4Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
38.8±3.3 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 27.8%±10.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Saco 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saco 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 U.S. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$128,963±$29kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| 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 34% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$378,200±$22kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Underhill and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,249±$385Highest 12% below U.S. |
$1,080±$131Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Saco and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,697Highest 115% above U.S. |
$4,807Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$5,497 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±18.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±33.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco and Fairfax 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% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1994Highest 14 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±11.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #38 of 133 in ME | #36 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Saco Public Schools | 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 |
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.