Compare towns
Wells vs Fairfax vs Putney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wells has the oldest population (median age 50.7).
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Wells | Fairfax | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,148Lowest |
5,226Highest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% VT: +2.8% |
+17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
38.8±3.3 10% below VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±2.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,417±$11kLowest 7% below VT |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$42kLowest 23% below VT |
$378,200±$22kHighest 19% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
$1,080±$131 12% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Wells and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
$5,497Highest 9% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.7% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 48 minHighest 102% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Fairfax and Putney 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 | — | #36 of 70 in VT | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Fairfax School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| 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.