What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).

Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).

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	Halifax
People
Population	1,066Highest	847Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT	40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT
	Fairlee and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9%	25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4%	22.6%±7.2Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Fairlee and Halifax 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 VT: 43.8%	44.9%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7%	1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7%
	Fairlee and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,760±$10kHighest 8% below VT	$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT
	Fairlee and Halifax 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	$267,500±$21kLowest 16% below VT
	Fairlee and Halifax 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	$875±$154Lowest 29% below VT
	Fairlee and Halifax 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	$4,991Lowest about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4%	57.1%±73.8Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Fairlee and Halifax 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%	6%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%	86.6%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT	1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 3% above VT	33 minHighest 38% above VT
Work from home	15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9%	29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9%
	Halifax 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	Halifax School District
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.