Compare towns
Fairlee vs Calais vs Fairlee
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 most affordable homes ($274k median).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Fairlee has the most renters (42.5% rent).
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 | Calais | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,066 |
1,713Highest |
54Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7 30% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
63.5±7.6Highest 47% above VT |
| Fairlee and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
0%±52.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
37%±54.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
11.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
0%±26.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Fairlee 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 |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$21,071±$13kLowest 74% below VT |
| Calais 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±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$277,500±$28k 12% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,057±$620Lowest 14% below VT |
| Calais and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,617 11% above VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$3,750Lowest 26% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
100%±55.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Fairlee 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% |
8.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
50%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
57.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1942Lowest 34 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 3% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
— |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
23.5%±30.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Fairlee and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.