What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fairlee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).

Franklin has the most kids (23.5% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Fairlee	Franklin
People
Population	1,066Lowest	1,590Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.1%Highest VT: +2.8%	-3%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT	38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT
Kids under 18	12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9%	23.5%±5.6Highest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4%	15.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.5%Highest VT: 43.8%	21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±3.7Lowest VT: 7%	7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7%
	Franklin 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±$10kLowest 8% below VT	$79,917±$21kHighest about the VT average
	Franklin 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±$39kHighest 13% below VT	$247,400±$66kLowest 22% below VT
	Fairlee and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,083±$242Highest 12% below VT	$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT
	Fairlee and Franklin 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	$3,384Lowest 33% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4%	45.5%±42.2Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Fairlee and Franklin 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%	8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.9%Highest VT: 73.2%	74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT	1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 3% above VT	25 minHighest 8% above VT
Work from home	15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9%	18.1%±4.7Highest VT: 16.9%
	Franklin and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Rivendell Interstate School District	Missisquoi Valley School District #89
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.