Compare towns
Wells vs Fairfield vs Underhill
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 most affordable homes ($243k median).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Underhill has the most people working from home (19.4%).
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 | Fairfield | Underhill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,148Lowest |
1,938 |
3,141Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
38.1±11.4Lowest 12% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5 VT: 17.9% |
27.8%±10.9Highest 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+ | 24.5%±2.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
17.6%±6 VT: 21.4% |
| Wells and Underhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
50.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±2Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,417±$11kLowest 7% below VT |
$87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
$92,267±$54kHighest 14% above VT |
| Underhill and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$42kLowest 23% below VT |
$320,600±$22k about the VT average |
$446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
$1,056±$441Lowest 14% below VT |
— |
| Wells and Fairfield 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 |
$4,816 4% below VT |
$6,697Highest 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
79.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 48 minHighest 102% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
33 min 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Underhill and Wells 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 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.