What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 63.5).

Brookline has the most kids (20% 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	Brookline
People
Population	54Lowest	531Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+1.9% VT: +2.8%
Median age	63.5±7.6Highest 47% above VT	45.1±2.7Lowest 5% above VT
Kids under 18	0%±52.4Lowest VT: 17.9%	20%±6Highest VT: 17.9%
	Brookline 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%	19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Fairlee and Brookline 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%	41.1%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0%±26.2Lowest VT: 7%	3.2%±1.6Highest VT: 7%
	Brookline 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	$80,833±$16kHighest about the VT average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$277,500±$28kLowest 12% below VT	$290,700±$37kHighest 8% below VT
	Brookline and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,057±$620Lowest 14% below VT	$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT
	Brookline and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,750Lowest 26% below VT	$5,000Highest about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	100%±55.5Highest VT: 48.4%	47.8%±94.7Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Fairlee and Brookline 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%	6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	57.5%Lowest VT: 73.2%	84.9%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1942Lowest 34 yrs older than VT	1975Highest 1 yr older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	—	28 min 21% above VT
Work from home	23.5%±30.4Highest VT: 16.9%	20.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Fairlee and Brookline 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.