What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Brighton has the most kids (18.3% 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	Brighton
People
Population	1,066Lowest	1,167Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.1%Highest VT: +2.8%	-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT	45.2±11.6Lowest 5% above VT
	Fairlee and Brighton 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%	18.3%±5.7Highest VT: 17.9%
	Brighton 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%	27.2%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Fairlee and Brighton 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%	25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7%	4.6%±2.4Lowest VT: 7%
	Fairlee and Brighton 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	$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT
	Fairlee and Brighton 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	$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,083±$242Highest 12% below VT	$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,617Highest 11% above VT	$3,360Lowest 33% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4%	55%±17Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Fairlee and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.7%Lowest VT: 10.1%	22%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.9%Highest VT: 73.2%	51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT	1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 3% above VT	33 minHighest 41% above VT
Work from home	15%±7.9Highest VT: 16.9%	12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Fairlee and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Rivendell Interstate School District	Brighton School District
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.