Compare towns
Fairlee vs Barre vs West 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
West Fairlee has the most homeowners (91.9%).
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.
| Measure | Fairlee | Barre | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,066 |
8,412Highest |
711Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
42.2±6.6Lowest about the VT average |
50.3±7.6 17% above VT |
| Fairlee and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
44.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Fairlee and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$65,625±$7kLowest 19% below VT |
$76,500±$16kHighest 6% below VT |
| West Fairlee and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,200±$39kHighest 13% below VT |
$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
$237,200±$35k 25% below VT |
| Fairlee and West 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 |
$1,093±$58 11% below VT |
$1,113±$171Highest 10% below VT |
| West Fairlee and Barre 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 |
$5,192Lowest 3% above VT |
$5,210 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.7% VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
91.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Fairlee and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Spaulding Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| 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.