Compare towns

Brookfield vs Fairlee vs Newfane

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookfield has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Fairlee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).

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.

MeasureBrookfieldFairleeNewfane
People
Population
1,486Highest
1,066Lowest
1,456
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.7%
VT: +2.8%
+1.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-4.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
47±5.9Lowest
9% above VT
56.2±8.7Highest
30% above VT
54.4±3.9
26% above VT
Fairlee and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.8%±4.1Highest
VT: 17.9%
12.2%±4.2
VT: 17.9%
11.1%±3.7Lowest
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%±6.4
VT: 21.4%
33.4%±5.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
29.2%±3.9Lowest
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%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
46.5%Highest
VT: 43.8%
46.5%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±2.4
VT: 7%
5.3%±3.7Highest
VT: 7%
2.4%±2.1Lowest
VT: 7%
Fairlee and Brookfield 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
$74,760±$10k
8% below VT
$66,719±$21kLowest
18% below VT
Brookfield and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$339,300±$15kHighest
7% above VT
$274,200±$39kLowest
13% below VT
$284,200±$49k
10% below VT
Brookfield and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$975±$306Lowest
21% below VT
$1,083±$242
12% below VT
$1,266±$238Highest
about the VT average
Newfane and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,560Lowest
10% below VT
$5,617Highest
11% above VT
$5,174
about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.4%±27.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
89.2%±71.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
51.9%±79.7
VT: 48.4%
Fairlee and Newfane 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%
14.7%Highest
VT: 10.1%
10.9%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
80.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
87.2%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Highest
1 yr older than VT
1972
4 yrs older than VT
1971Lowest
5 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
37 minHighest
55% above VT
24 minLowest
3% above VT
27 min
13% above VT
Work from home
27.3%±10.4
VT: 16.9%
15%±7.9Lowest
VT: 16.9%
30.8%±12.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
Newfane and Brookfield 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 West River Valley Union Education District #72A
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.