Compare towns
Fairlee vs Colrain vs Bradford
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%).
Colrain has the most expensive homes ($284k median).
Bradford has the highest household income ($108k).
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 | Colrain | Bradford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,066Lowest |
1,627 |
2,827Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7Highest 44% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
42.7±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Fairlee and Colrain 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% |
15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bradford and Colrain 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% |
30.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Fairlee and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.7%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fairlee and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,760±$10kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
$108,162±$15kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,200±$39k 18% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14kHighest 15% below U.S. |
$258,600±$30kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Colrain 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 23% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$1,221±$808Highest 14% below U.S. |
| Bradford and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,617Highest 80% above U.S. |
$4,317Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$4,472 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.9%±23.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.7%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Fairlee and Colrain 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 | — | — | #45 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | Mohawk Trail | Oxbow Unified Union School District #91 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Oxbow Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.