What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Berkshire has the most kids (27.2% 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	Berkshire
People
Population	1,066Lowest	1,745Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.1%Highest VT: +2.8%	-8.6%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT	31.6±6.9Lowest 27% below VT
Kids under 18	12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9%	27.2%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4%	14.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.5%Highest VT: 43.8%	22%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7%	3.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 7%
	Fairlee and Berkshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,760±$10kHighest 8% below VT	$71,406±$21kLowest 12% below VT
	Fairlee and Berkshire 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	$244,600±$26kLowest 23% below VT
	Fairlee and Berkshire 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	$1,525±$267Highest 24% above VT
	Berkshire 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	$3,545Lowest 30% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4%	57.4%±52.6Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Fairlee and Berkshire 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%	14.6%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.9%Highest VT: 73.2%	77.3%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT	1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 3% above VT	32 minHighest 37% above VT
Work from home	15%±7.9Highest VT: 16.9%	12.1%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Fairlee and Berkshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Rivendell Interstate School District	Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85
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.