Compare towns
Fairlee vs Brattleboro vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
Brattleboro has the most renters (41.5% rent).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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 | Brattleboro | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,066Lowest |
12,122Highest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
45.6±4.5 6% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
| Fairlee and Brattleboro 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% |
19%±2.8 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Brattleboro 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% |
25.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Fairlee and Middlesex 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 |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$257,300±$18kLowest 19% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$1,074±$58Lowest 13% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
| Middlesex and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,617Lowest 11% above VT |
$5,700 13% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Brattleboro 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% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
58.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% above VT |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Brattleboro 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 | — | #33 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Brattleboro Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.