What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).

Marlboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+59.7%).

Marlboro is a college town. 42.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Marlboro
People
Population	1,066Lowest	1,362Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+59.7%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT	22.7±2.1Lowest 47% below VT
Kids under 18	12.2%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9%	12%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Fairlee and Marlboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4%	18.8%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8%	53.7%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±3.7Lowest VT: 7%	42.7%±4.8Highest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,760±$10kLowest 8% below VT	$77,135±$10kHighest 5% below VT
	Marlboro 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	$357,300±$55kHighest 13% above VT
	Marlboro and Fairlee 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	$1,600±$824Highest 30% above VT
	Marlboro and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,617Lowest 11% above VT	$5,640Highest 12% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4%	39.1%±43.6Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Fairlee and Marlboro 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%	7.9%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%	84.6%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT	1976Highest same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 3% above VT	17 minLowest 26% below VT
Work from home	15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9%	26%±11.2Highest VT: 16.9%
	Marlboro 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	Marlboro School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.