Compare towns
Fairlee vs Brookline vs Sutton
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).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
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 | Brookline | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,066Highest |
531Lowest |
790 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
45.1±2.7Lowest 5% above VT |
46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
| Fairlee and Sutton 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% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Sutton 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% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Fairlee and Brookline 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 |
$80,833±$16kHighest about the VT average |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below VT |
| Brookline 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±$39k 13% below VT |
$290,700±$37kHighest 8% below VT |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
| Brookline and Fairlee 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 |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$3,975Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Brookline 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% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
85%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 3% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookline 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 | — | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school 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.