Compare towns

Underhill vs Walden vs Fairfield

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).
Walden has the most affordable homes ($239k median).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).

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.

MeasureUnderhillWaldenFairfield
People
Population
3,141Highest
1,037Lowest
1,938
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.7%
VT: +2.8%
+2.2%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+8.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
38.1±11.4Lowest
12% below VT
48.8±3.2Highest
13% above VT
42.3±2.7
about the VT average
Kids under 18
27.8%±10.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
14.3%±3.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
25.4%±5
VT: 17.9%
Underhill and Fairfield 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%
20.4%±2.6Highest
VT: 21.4%
14.3%±1.8Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Walden 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
VT: 43.8%
26.4%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
30.2%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.5%±2Lowest
VT: 7%
4%±2.1Highest
VT: 7%
3.5%±1.6Lowest
VT: 7%
Walden and Underhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$92,267±$54kHighest
14% above VT
$88,000±$15k
8% above VT
$87,019±$22kLowest
7% above VT
Underhill and Walden 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
$238,900±$23kLowest
25% below VT
$320,600±$22k
about the VT average
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$900±$136Lowest
27% below VT
$1,056±$441Highest
14% below VT
Fairfield and Walden 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
$3,944Lowest
22% below VT
$4,816
4% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±18.2Lowest
VT: 48.4%
56.3%±86.8Highest
VT: 48.4%
29.2%±20.4
VT: 48.4%
Walden and Fairfield 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%
9.3%Highest
VT: 10.1%
5.1%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.8%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
93.8%Highest
VT: 73.2%
88.5%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Lowest
3 yrs newer than VT
1983
7 yrs newer than VT
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
39% above VT
26 min
10% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
Work from home
19.4%±11.3
VT: 16.9%
21.4%±6.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
7.8%±3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Walden 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 — —
School district Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 Maple Run Unified Union School District #57
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
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.