Compare towns

Fairlee vs Cornish 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%).
Cornish has the highest household income ($92k).
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.

MeasureFairleeCornishBridgewater
People
Population
1,066
1,816Highest
980Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
56.2±8.7
44% above U.S.
54±8.3Lowest
39% 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%
14.4%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.8%±5.8
U.S.: 22%
Cornish 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%
27.3%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.2%±0.7
U.S.: 17.2%
Fairlee and Bridgewater 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%
40.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
40.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±3.7
U.S.: 6.4%
1.4%±0.9Lowest
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.
$91,821±$2kHighest
14% above U.S.
$70,272±$3kLowest
13% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$274,200±$39k
18% below U.S.
$296,000±$69kHighest
11% below U.S.
$218,300±$55kLowest
34% below U.S.
Cornish 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.
$1,221±$227Highest
14% below U.S.
$850±$778Lowest
40% below U.S.
Cornish and Fairlee 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.
$5,796Highest
86% above U.S.
$3,418Lowest
10% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
89.2%±71.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
40.5%±38.1Lowest
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%
4.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
14.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
8% below U.S.
24 minHighest
8% below U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
Work from home
15%±7.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±6.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Fairlee and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Rivendell Interstate School District Cornish School District —
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.