What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Braintree has the most people working from home (19%).

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	Braintree
People
Population	1,066Highest	1,026Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.1%Highest VT: +2.8%	-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	56.2±8.7Lowest 30% above VT	58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT
	Braintree and 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%	12.3%±3.2Highest VT: 17.9%
	Braintree 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%	33.2%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Fairlee and Braintree 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%	30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7%	1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7%
	Fairlee and Braintree 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	$79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average
	Braintree 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	$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT
	Fairlee and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,083±$242Highest 12% below VT	$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT
	Fairlee and Braintree 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	$3,908Lowest 22% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4%	43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Fairlee and Braintree 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%	11.1%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%	81%Highest 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	26 minHighest 11% above VT
Work from home	15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9%	19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9%
	Braintree 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	Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.