What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($274k median).

Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).

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	Middlesex
People
Population	1,066Lowest	1,943Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT	44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT
	Fairlee and Middlesex 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%	21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4%	20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8%	54.7%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7%	5.2%±2.6Lowest VT: 7%
	Fairlee and Middlesex 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 8% below VT	$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT	$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,083±$242Lowest 12% below VT	$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT
	Middlesex 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	$6,483Highest 29% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4%	0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Fairlee and Middlesex 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%	3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%	96.7%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT	1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 3% above VT	27 minHighest 17% above VT
Work from home	15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9%	28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9%
	Middlesex 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	Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
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.