Compare towns
Fairlee vs Castleton vs Putney vs Orford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairlee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Putney has the most people working from home (16.9%).
Orford has the highest household income ($93k).
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 | Castleton | Putney | Orford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,066Lowest |
4,453Highest |
2,622 |
1,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
0% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7Highest 44% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
48.9±3.3 26% above U.S. |
| Fairlee and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Fairlee and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Putney and Castleton 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 7% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$92,571±$24kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Orford and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,200±$39k 18% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44kHighest 10% below U.S. |
$271,900±$25k 18% below U.S. |
| Putney and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,083±$242 23% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,263±$686Highest 11% below U.S. |
| Orford and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,617 80% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$5,836Highest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±10.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
26 minHighest 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Putney and Fairlee 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Rivendell Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.