Compare towns
Underhill vs Shelburne 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 kids (27.8% under 18).
Shelburne has the shortest commute (20 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 | Shelburne | Fairfax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,141Lowest |
7,969Highest |
5,226 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8% VT: +2.8% |
+17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.1±11.4Lowest 12% below VT |
50.9±3.2Highest 18% above VT |
38.8±3.3 10% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.2%±3.9Lowest 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% |
29.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.1% VT: 43.8% |
70.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
4.7%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Shelburne 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 VT |
$115,963±$16k 43% above VT |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
| Fairfax and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $446,000±$24k 41% above VT |
$588,100±$44kHighest 86% above VT |
$378,200±$22kLowest 19% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,442±$589Highest 17% above VT |
$1,080±$131Lowest 12% below VT |
| Shelburne and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,697 33% above VT |
$8,173Highest 62% above VT |
$5,497Lowest 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.7%±10.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Shelburne 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% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% VT: 73.2% |
69.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 3 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 |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.4%±11.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Shelburne 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 | #8 of 70 in VT | #36 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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 Our Story | 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.