What stands out worked out from the figures below

Braintree has the most people working from home (19%).

West Fairlee has the youngest population (median age 50.3).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Braintree	West Fairlee
People
Population	1,026Highest	711Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.1%Highest VT: +2.8%	-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT	50.3±7.6Lowest 17% above VT
	Braintree and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9%	13.5%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9%
	West Fairlee and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4%	29.7%±6.7Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Braintree and West Fairlee 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%	44.6%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7%	2.8%±2.3Highest VT: 7%
	West Fairlee and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average	$76,500±$16kLowest 6% below VT
	Braintree and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT	$237,200±$35kHighest 25% below VT
	West Fairlee and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT	$1,113±$171Highest 10% below VT
	West Fairlee and Braintree 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	$5,210Highest 3% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4%	50%±89.6Highest VT: 48.4%
	West 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%Highest VT: 10.1%	7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81%Lowest VT: 73.2%	91.9%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT	1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 11% above VT	28 minHighest 20% above VT
Work from home	19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9%	5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9%
Schools
School district	Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59	Rivendell Interstate School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.