Compare towns
Brighton vs Fairlee vs Morrisville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Fairlee has the most homeowners (80.9%).
Morrisville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
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 | Brighton | Fairlee | Morrisville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,167 |
1,066Lowest |
2,664Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+6.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6Lowest 5% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
45.3±6 5% above VT |
| Fairlee and Morrisville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±5.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Brighton and Morrisville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.9%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
10.6%±5.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Morrisville and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
$74,760±$10kHighest 8% below VT |
$68,240±$15k 16% below VT |
| Fairlee and Morrisville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$276,300±$20kHighest 13% below VT |
| Morrisville and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$1,289±$116Highest 4% above VT |
| Morrisville and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$4,542 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.5%±15.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
52.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
22 minLowest 5% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Fairlee and Morrisville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Brighton School District | Rivendell Interstate School District | — |
| High school 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.