Compare towns
Fairlee vs Marlboro vs Stratton
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 oldest population (median age 56.2).
Marlboro has the most people working from home (26%).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Fairlee | Marlboro | Stratton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,066 |
1,362Highest |
532Lowest |
| 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 |
31.5±4.1 27% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
12%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.8%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5% VT: 43.8% |
53.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
42.7%±4.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,760±$10kLowest 8% below VT |
$77,135±$10k 5% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
$357,300±$55k 13% above VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
| Stratton and Marlboro 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 |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
| Marlboro and Stratton 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 |
$5,640Highest 12% above VT |
$4,750Lowest 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
39.1%±43.6 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% above VT |
17 minLowest 26% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
26%±11.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest 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 | 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.