What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Bridgewater has the most kids (12.8% under 18).

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	Fairlee	Bridgewater
People
Population	54Lowest	980Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-3.5% VT: +2.8%
Median age	63.5±7.6Highest 47% above VT	57.1±8Lowest 32% above VT
	Fairlee and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	0%±52.4Lowest VT: 17.9%	12.8%±5.8Highest VT: 17.9%
	Bridgewater and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	37%±54.9Highest VT: 21.4%	30.2%±0.7Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Fairlee and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	11.1%Lowest VT: 43.8%	40.3%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0%±26.2Lowest VT: 7%	5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7%
	Bridgewater and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$21,071±$13kLowest 74% below VT	$70,272±$3kHighest 13% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$277,500±$28kHighest 12% below VT	$218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT
	Fairlee and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,057±$620Highest 14% below VT	$850±$778Lowest 31% below VT
	Fairlee and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,750Highest 26% below VT	$3,418Lowest 32% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	100%±55.5Highest VT: 48.4%	59.7%±39.1Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Fairlee and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	50%Highest VT: 10.1%	14.8%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	57.5%Lowest VT: 73.2%	85.4%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1942Lowest 34 yrs older than VT	1976Highest same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	—	24 min about the VT average
Work from home	23.5%±30.4Highest VT: 16.9%	10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Fairlee and Bridgewater 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

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.