Compare towns
Fairlee vs Colrain vs Bridgewater
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 kids (15.3% under 18).
Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
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 | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,066 |
1,627Highest |
980Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7 44% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7Lowest 28% above U.S. |
57.1±8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Bridgewater and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Colrain and Bridgewater 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% |
30.2%±0.7Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bridgewater 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 7% below U.S. |
$80,673±$10kHighest about the U.S. average |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Colrain 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 18% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14kHighest 15% below U.S. |
$218,300±$55kLowest 34% 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±$242 23% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77Highest 22% below U.S. |
$850±$778Lowest 40% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Fairlee 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. |
$4,317 38% above U.S. |
$3,418Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±39.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee and Bridgewater 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% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4% 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 min 8% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Fairlee and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | Mohawk Trail | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.