Compare towns
Wilder vs Putney vs Fairfax
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Fairfax has the highest household income ($129k).
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 | Wilder | Putney | Fairfax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,087 |
2,622Lowest |
5,226Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+17% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
38.8±3.3 10% below VT |
| Wilder and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.3Highest 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+ | 27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,200±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$378,200±$22kHighest 19% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451Highest 7% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,080±$131 12% below VT |
| Wilder and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505Highest 9% above VT |
$5,313Lowest 5% above VT |
$5,497 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
85.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 29% below VT |
18 min 24% below VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6Highest 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | #36 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Fairfax School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) |
| 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.