Compare towns
Fairlee vs Middlebury 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
Middlebury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Middlebury is a college town. 40.9% 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 | Middlebury | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,066 |
7,220Highest |
980Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+10.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7 30% above VT |
23.7±1.3Lowest 45% 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%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±5.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Bridgewater and Fairlee 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% |
19.8%±2.6Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
61.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7Lowest VT: 7% |
40.9%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$86,250±$18kHighest 6% above VT |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below VT |
| Middlebury 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±$39k 13% below VT |
$417,400±$31kHighest 32% above VT |
$218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$1,201±$120Highest about the VT average |
$850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
| Middlebury and Fairlee 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 |
$6,795Highest 35% above VT |
$3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
56.6%±15.8Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
14.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
56.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 3% above VT |
15 minLowest 38% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlebury and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #17 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | — | — |
| High school 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.