Compare towns
Braintree 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
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Fairlee has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Braintree | Fairlee | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,026Lowest |
1,066 |
1,943Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
56.2±8.7 30% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
| Braintree and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 33.2%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest 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 | $79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$74,760±$10kLowest 8% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
| Middlesex and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,617 11% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.1% VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% above VT |
24 minLowest 3% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Rivendell Interstate School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.