Compare towns
Fairlee vs Lowell vs Bridgewater
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairlee has the most people working from home (15%).
Lowell has the most kids (30.7% under 18).
Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
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 | Lowell | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,066 |
1,070Highest |
980Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.9% VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7 30% above VT |
32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.2%±0.7 VT: 21.4% |
| 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 VT: 43.8% |
19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
| 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±$10kHighest 8% below VT |
$57,404±$15kLowest 29% below VT |
$70,272±$3k 13% below VT |
| Fairlee and Bridgewater 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 |
$183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
$218,300±$55k 31% below VT |
| Fairlee and Bridgewater 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 |
$945±$46 23% below VT |
$850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
| Fairlee and Lowell 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 |
$2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
$3,418 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
26.3%±92.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1 VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
9.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% above VT |
55 minHighest 135% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Fairlee and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | Lowell 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.