What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fairlee has the most kids (12.2% under 18).

Middlefield has the highest household income ($104k).

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	Middlefield
People
Population	1,066Highest	352Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-26.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	56.2±8.7Lowest 44% above U.S.	56.9±3.7Highest 46% above U.S.
	Middlefield and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22%	4.5%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Fairlee and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	33.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	28.7%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Fairlee and Middlefield 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 U.S.: 35.7%	31.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Fairlee and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,760±$10kLowest 7% below U.S.	$103,750±$23kHighest 29% above U.S.
	Middlefield 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 18% below U.S.	$332,800±$48kHighest about the U.S. average
	Middlefield 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 23% below U.S.	$2,625±$1kHighest 86% above U.S.
	Middlefield and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,617Highest 80% above U.S.	$4,926Lowest 58% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	89.2%±71.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Middlefield and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	12.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 8% below U.S.	30 minHighest 13% above U.S.
Work from home	15%±7.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.2%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Fairlee and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Rivendell Interstate School District	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.