What stands out worked out from the figures below

Carroll has the most kids (7% under 18).

Fairlee has the most people working from home (23.5%).

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	Carroll	Fairlee
People
Population	659Highest	54Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.5% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	62.4±4.8Lowest 60% above U.S.	63.5±7.6Highest 63% above U.S.
	Fairlee and Carroll are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22%	0%±52.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Carroll and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	39.5%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	37%±54.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Carroll and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	11.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0%±26.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Carroll and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$64,821±$26kHighest 20% below U.S.	$21,071±$13kLowest 74% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$261,500±$42kLowest 21% below U.S.	$277,500±$28kHighest 17% below U.S.
	Fairlee and Carroll are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,078±$241Highest 24% below U.S.	$1,057±$620Lowest 25% below U.S.
	Carroll and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,356Lowest 8% above U.S.	$3,750Highest 20% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	28%±47.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	100%±55.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Fairlee and Carroll are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	50%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	57.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 min 18% below U.S.	—
Work from home	4.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	23.5%±30.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Fairlee and Carroll are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.