Compare towns
Underhill vs Westminster vs Fairfax vs Arlington
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).
Westminster has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
Arlington has the most people working from home (35.9%).
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 | Westminster | Fairfax | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,141 |
2,999 |
5,226Highest |
2,598Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.1±11.4 12% below VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
38.8±3.3 10% below VT |
37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9 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% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.1% VT: 43.8% |
46.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.5% VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2 VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Westminster 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 VT |
$71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
$102,308±$11k 26% above VT |
| Fairfax and Arlington 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 |
$273,800±$35kLowest 14% below VT |
$378,200±$22k 19% above VT |
$318,500±$59k about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
$1,080±$131 12% below VT |
$1,191±$172Highest 3% below VT |
| Arlington and Fairfax 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 |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
$5,497 9% above VT |
$4,549 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9 VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 6.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.7% VT: 73.2% |
84% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 39% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
31 min 31% above VT |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 19.4%±11.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Westminster 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 | #53 of 70 in VT | #36 of 70 in VT | #50 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Fairfax School District | Arlington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | Arlington Memorial |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6Highest |
9.8Lowest |
10.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.