What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).

Arlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

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	Arlington
People
Population	1,066Lowest	2,598Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+6%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT	37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT
Kids under 18	12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9%	20.6%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4%	20.7%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8%	55.9%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7%	3.3%±1.7Lowest VT: 7%
	Fairlee and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,760±$10kLowest 8% below VT	$102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT	$318,500±$59kHighest about the VT average
	Arlington and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,083±$242Lowest 12% below VT	$1,191±$172Highest 3% below VT
	Arlington and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,617Highest 11% above VT	$4,549Lowest 10% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4%	77.1%±9.5Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Fairlee and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.7%Highest VT: 10.1%	7.5%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%	84%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT	1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 3% above VT	20 minLowest 13% below VT
Work from home	15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9%	35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#50 of 70 in VT
School district	Rivendell Interstate School District	Arlington School District
High school in town	None in town	Arlington Memorial
Students per teacherat that high school	—	10.6
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.