Compare towns

Fairlee vs Grafton vs Newfane

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fairlee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
Grafton has the most expensive homes ($343k median).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).

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.

MeasureFairleeGraftonNewfane
People
Population
1,066
666Lowest
1,456Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-4.7%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
56.2±8.7
30% above VT
59.2±4.4Highest
37% above VT
54.4±3.9Lowest
26% above VT
Grafton and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
12.2%±4.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
5.9%±3.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
11.1%±3.7
VT: 17.9%
Fairlee and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
33.4%±5.2
VT: 21.4%
34.2%±2Highest
VT: 21.4%
29.2%±3.9Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Grafton and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46.5%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48.4%Highest
VT: 43.8%
46.5%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±3.7
VT: 7%
7.1%±5Highest
VT: 7%
2.4%±2.1Lowest
VT: 7%
Grafton 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
8% below VT
$76,111±$7kHighest
6% below VT
$66,719±$21kLowest
18% below VT
Grafton 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±$39kLowest
13% below VT
$343,200±$85kHighest
8% above VT
$284,200±$49k
10% below VT
Grafton and Newfane 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
$1,288±$174Highest
4% above VT
$1,266±$238
about the VT average
Grafton and Newfane 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
$4,843Lowest
4% below VT
$5,174
about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
89.2%±71.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
53.8%±69.4
VT: 48.4%
51.9%±79.7Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Fairlee and Grafton 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%
4.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
10.9%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
89.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
87.2%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
4 yrs older than VT
1978Highest
2 yrs newer than VT
1971Lowest
5 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
3% above VT
24 min
4% above VT
27 minHighest
13% above VT
Work from home
15%±7.9Lowest
VT: 16.9%
15.8%±5.4
VT: 16.9%
30.8%±12.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
Newfane and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Rivendell Interstate School District Athens Grafton School District West River Valley Union Education District #72A
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.