Compare towns

Underhill vs Wakefield 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).
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k median).
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.

MeasureUnderhillWakefieldFairfax
People
Population
3,141Lowest
27,793Highest
5,226
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+17%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.1±11.4Lowest
about the U.S. average
42.4±1.7Highest
9% above U.S.
38.8±3.3
about the U.S. average
Wakefield and Fairfax 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%
20%±2.2Lowest
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%
19%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
12.5%±4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Wakefield 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
59.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
49.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.5%±2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.3%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Wakefield 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.
$134,306±$14kHighest
66% above U.S.
$128,963±$29k
60% above U.S.
Wakefield and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$446,000±$24k
34% above U.S.
$723,500±$24kHighest
117% above U.S.
$378,200±$22kLowest
14% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,958±$102Highest
39% above U.S.
$1,080±$131Lowest
24% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,697
115% above U.S.
$7,779Highest
149% above U.S.
$5,497Lowest
76% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±18.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.7%±7.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.3%±33.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Wakefield 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%
4.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
70.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
1994Highest
14 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
24% above U.S.
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
31 minLowest
17% above U.S.
Work from home
19.4%±11.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
24.6%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
26.7%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Fairfax and Wakefield 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 #179 of 282 in MA #36 of 70 in VT
School district Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 — Fairfax School District
High school 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.