Compare towns
Brookline vs Calais vs Fairlee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
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 | Brookline | Calais | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531Lowest |
1,713Highest |
1,066 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
| Fairlee and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
| Calais and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$74,760±$10kLowest 8% below VT |
| Calais and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,408±$392 14% above VT |
$1,083±$242Lowest 12% below VT |
| Brookline and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000Lowest about the VT average |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$5,617 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
24 minLowest 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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.