Compare towns
Fairlee vs Benson 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%).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
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 | Benson | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,066Highest |
784 |
711Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
50.3±7.6Lowest 17% 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% |
13.5%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Benson and West 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% |
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% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
44.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest 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 |
$76,500±$16k 6% below VT |
| Benson and West 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±$26k 24% below VT |
$237,200±$35kLowest 25% 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 |
$1,113±$171Highest 10% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
$5,210 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6Lowest 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% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
91.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 3% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None 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.