Compare towns
Fairlee vs Grafton vs Panton
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 homeowners (89.9%).
Panton has the most kids (24.9% 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.
| Measure | Fairlee | Grafton | Panton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,066Highest |
666Lowest |
690 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7 30% above VT |
59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT |
42.7±3.8Lowest about the VT average |
| 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%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
48.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
7.1%±5Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.3Lowest 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±$10kLowest 8% below VT |
$76,111±$7k 6% below VT |
$86,667±$10kHighest 7% above VT |
| Panton and Grafton 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±$85k 8% above VT |
$438,000±$40kHighest 38% above VT |
| Panton and Grafton 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±$174 4% above VT |
$1,410±$130Highest 14% above VT |
| Panton and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,617 11% above VT |
$4,843Lowest 4% below VT |
$6,695Highest 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.8%±69.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61%±39 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Panton 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% VT: 10.1% |
3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 3% above VT |
24 min 4% above VT |
26 minHighest 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.8%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±8.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Panton 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 | — |
| High school 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.