Compare towns
Wayne vs Fairfax vs Bradford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 62.6).
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
Bradford has the most affordable homes ($120k 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 | Wayne | Fairfax | Bradford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,033 |
5,226Highest |
695Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+17%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 62.6±3.6Highest 61% above U.S. |
38.8±3.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.9±5.8 18% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Fairfax and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 40.1%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±6.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bradford and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,938±$17k 13% above U.S. |
$128,963±$29kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$60,625±$13kLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Fairfax and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $266,700±$150k 20% below U.S. |
$378,200±$22kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$120,000±$42kLowest 64% below U.S. |
| Fairfax and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,031±$304 27% below U.S. |
$1,080±$131Highest 24% below U.S. |
$770±$22Lowest 46% below U.S. |
| Fairfax and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,967 27% above U.S. |
$5,497Highest 76% above U.S. |
$2,838Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.9%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±33.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bradford and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1994Highest 14 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #36 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Fairfax School District | — |
| High school 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.