What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fairlee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).

Benson has the most kids (16.5% 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	Benson
People
Population	1,066Highest	784Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.1%Highest VT: +2.8%	-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT	51.9±9.4Lowest 20% above VT
	Fairlee and Benson 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%	16.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9%
	Benson and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4%	26.9%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Fairlee and Benson 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%	32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±3.7Lowest VT: 7%	7%±5.8Highest VT: 7%
	Benson and Fairlee 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	$78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT
	Benson 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	$242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT
	Fairlee and Benson 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	$1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT
	Benson 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	$4,125Lowest 18% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4%	53.4%±35.2Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Fairlee and Benson 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%	5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.9% VT: 73.2%	80.9% VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT	1975Highest 1 yr older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 3% above VT	32 minHighest 35% above VT
Work from home	15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9%	18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9%
	Benson and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Rivendell Interstate School District	Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.