Compare towns
Williston vs Middlesex vs Fairfax
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).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
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 | Williston | Middlesex | Fairfax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
1,943Lowest |
5,226 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
38.8±3.3Lowest 10% below VT |
| Williston and Middlesex 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% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Williston and Middlesex 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% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
49.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12kLowest 32% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
| Fairfax and Middlesex 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 |
$376,300±$40kLowest 19% above VT |
$378,200±$22k 19% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,080±$131Lowest 12% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592 11% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,497Lowest 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9 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% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993 17 yrs newer than VT |
1986Lowest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 16% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Fairfax 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 |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Fairfax School District |
| High school in town | None 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.