Compare towns
Fairlee vs Calais vs Rochester
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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
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 | Calais | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,066Lowest |
1,713Highest |
1,389 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
| Fairlee and Rochester 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% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Rochester 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% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest 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 |
$72,676±$8kLowest 11% 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±$39k 13% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$253,600±$81kLowest 20% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$929±$158Lowest 25% 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 |
$3,977Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Rochester 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% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 3% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester 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 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school in town | None 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.