Compare towns

Fairlee vs Castleton vs Tunbridge

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).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Tunbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).

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.

MeasureFairleeCastletonTunbridge
People
Population
1,066Lowest
4,453Highest
1,253
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.1%
VT: +2.8%
-5.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+4.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
56.2±8.7Highest
30% above VT
38.3±4.3Lowest
11% below VT
42.7±8.3
about the VT average
Fairlee and Tunbridge 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%
18.8%±6.4
VT: 17.9%
21.1%±4.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
Tunbridge and Castleton 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%
20.7%±4.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
20.9%±1.6
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46.5%Highest
VT: 43.8%
37.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
42.9%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±3.7
VT: 7%
19.3%±1.8Highest
VT: 7%
3.6%±2Lowest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$74,760±$10k
8% below VT
$73,854±$23kLowest
9% below VT
$89,464±$26kHighest
10% above VT
Tunbridge 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
$224,800±$71kLowest
29% below VT
$315,300±$23kHighest
about the VT average
Tunbridge 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
$1,137±$195
8% below VT
$1,346±$128Highest
9% above VT
Tunbridge and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,617Highest
11% above VT
$3,167Lowest
37% below VT
$4,645
8% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
89.2%±71.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
67.7%±21.9Lowest
VT: 48.4%
76.7%±100
VT: 48.4%
Fairlee and Tunbridge 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%
12.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
14.4%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%
VT: 73.2%
79%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
84.2%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Lowest
4 yrs older than VT
1974
2 yrs older than VT
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
3% above VT
19 minLowest
17% below VT
31 minHighest
31% above VT
Work from home
15%±7.9
VT: 16.9%
6.2%±3.9Lowest
VT: 16.9%
25.8%±8.2Highest
VT: 16.9%
Tunbridge 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 —
School district Rivendell Interstate School District Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 First Branch Unified School District #82
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.