Compare towns

Fairlee vs Reading vs Fairlee

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fairlee has the most renters (42.5% rent).
Reading has the most kids (18.5% under 18).
Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($274k median).

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.

MeasureFairleeReadingFairlee
People
Population
54Lowest
699
1,066Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+3.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+1.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
63.5±7.6Highest
47% above VT
51.1±7.6Lowest
19% above VT
56.2±8.7
30% above VT
Fairlee and Fairlee 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%
18.5%±4.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
12.2%±4.2
VT: 17.9%
Reading 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%
28.2%±3.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
33.4%±5.2
VT: 21.4%
Fairlee and Fairlee 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%
46%
VT: 43.8%
46.5%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0%±26.2Lowest
VT: 7%
3.1%±2.5
VT: 7%
5.3%±3.7Highest
VT: 7%
Fairlee and Reading 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
$85,000±$19kHighest
5% above VT
$74,760±$10k
8% below VT
Reading and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$277,500±$28k
12% below VT
$377,200±$72kHighest
19% above VT
$274,200±$39kLowest
13% below VT
Reading 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
$1,100±$331Highest
11% below VT
$1,083±$242
12% below VT
Reading 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
$5,754Highest
14% above VT
$5,617
11% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
100%±55.5Highest
VT: 48.4%
63.3%±31.7Lowest
VT: 48.4%
89.2%±71.3
VT: 48.4%
Fairlee and Fairlee 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%
8.4%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
14.7%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
57.5%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
84.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
80.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1942Lowest
34 yrs older than VT
1969
7 yrs older than VT
1972Highest
4 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way —
33 minHighest
41% above VT
24 minLowest
3% above VT
Work from home
23.5%±30.4Highest
VT: 16.9%
22.9%±10.6
VT: 16.9%
15%±7.9Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Fairlee and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 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.