Compare towns
Waterville vs Fairfax vs Johnson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterville has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
Johnson has the most affordable homes ($169k median).
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 | Waterville | Fairfax | Johnson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 680Lowest |
5,226Highest |
3,450 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
38.8±3.3 10% below VT |
30.9±6.5Lowest 28% below VT |
| Waterville and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±8.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.7%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax and Johnson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±4 VT: 21.4% |
10.8%±3.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Waterville and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6Lowest VT: 7% |
14.4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
$55,346±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
$378,200±$22kHighest 19% above VT |
$169,400±$62kLowest 46% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93Highest 10% below VT |
$1,080±$131 12% below VT |
$948±$45Lowest 23% below VT |
| Waterville and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,957 21% below VT |
$5,497Highest 9% above VT |
$3,310Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
51.6%±20.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Johnson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
12.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
31 minLowest 31% above VT |
33 min 42% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.8%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #36 of 70 in VT | #57 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Fairfax School District | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | None in town |
| 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.