What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookfield has the most kids (18.8% under 18).

Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 63.5).

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.

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

Measure	Brookfield	Fairlee
People
Population	1,486Highest	54Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.7% VT: +2.8%	—
Median age	47±5.9Lowest 9% above VT	63.5±7.6Highest 47% above VT
Kids under 18	18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9%	0%±52.4Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Brookfield and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.7%±6.4Lowest VT: 21.4%	37%±54.9Highest VT: 21.4%
	Fairlee and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.3%Highest VT: 43.8%	11.1%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±2.4Highest VT: 7%	0%±26.2Lowest VT: 7%
	Brookfield and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT	$21,071±$13kLowest 74% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT	$277,500±$28kLowest 12% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$975±$306Lowest 21% below VT	$1,057±$620Highest 14% below VT
	Fairlee and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,560Highest 10% below VT	$3,750Lowest 26% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4%	100%±55.5Highest VT: 48.4%
	Fairlee and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1%	50%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.9%Highest VT: 73.2%	57.5%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 1 yr older than VT	1942Lowest 34 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 min 55% above VT	—
Work from home	27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9%	23.5%±30.4Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Brookfield and Fairlee 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	—
High school 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.