Compare towns
Williston vs Fairfax vs Underhill
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Fairfax has the highest household income ($129k).
Underhill has the most kids (27.8% under 18).
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 | Williston | Fairfax | Underhill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
5,226 |
3,141Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2% VT: +2.8% |
+17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
38.8±3.3 10% below VT |
38.1±11.4Lowest 12% below VT |
| Williston and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
17.6%±6 VT: 21.4% |
| Williston and Underhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
50.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.5%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williston and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
$92,267±$54kLowest 14% above VT |
| Fairfax and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$378,200±$22kLowest 19% above VT |
$446,000±$24k 41% above VT |
| Williston and Underhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,080±$131Lowest 12% below VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592 11% above VT |
$5,497Lowest 9% above VT |
$6,697Highest 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
6.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993 17 yrs newer than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 16% below VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Fairfax and Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #36 of 70 in VT | #2 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Fairfax School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| 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 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.