Compare towns
Bradford vs Fairlee vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bradford has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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 | Bradford | Fairlee | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,827Highest |
1,066Lowest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.7±3.1Lowest about the VT average |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
| Fairlee and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±5.8 VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.7%±1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Fairlee and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,162±$15k 33% above VT |
$74,760±$10kLowest 8% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
| Middlesex and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $258,600±$30kLowest 18% below VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,221±$808 about the VT average |
$1,083±$242Lowest 12% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
| Middlesex and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,472Lowest 11% below VT |
$5,617 11% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.9%±23.4 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 4% above VT |
24 minLowest 3% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.7%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Fairlee 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 | #45 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Oxbow Unified Union School District #91 | Rivendell Interstate School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Oxbow Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
— | — |
| 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.