Compare towns
Addison vs Fairlee vs Waltham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Addison has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Waltham has the most people working from home (20.6%).
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 | Addison | Fairlee | Waltham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,175Highest |
1,066 |
452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 53.1±7.6Lowest 23% above VT |
56.2±8.7 30% above VT |
60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT |
| Waltham and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±7.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Addison and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.1%±1.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
45.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2% VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Addison and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,667±$7kHighest 31% above VT |
$74,760±$10kLowest 8% below VT |
$97,500±$14k 20% above VT |
| Addison and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,200±$23kHighest 14% above VT |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
$329,700±$51k 4% above VT |
| Addison and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,019±$461Highest 64% above VT |
$1,083±$242Lowest 12% below VT |
$1,096±$113 11% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,831Highest 16% above VT |
$5,617Lowest 11% above VT |
$5,714 13% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±62.8 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±58.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
24 minLowest 3% above VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Waltham and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Rivendell Interstate School District | — |
| High school 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.