Compare towns
Fairlee vs Middlesex vs Worcester vs Bradford
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).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Bradford has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
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 | Middlesex | Worcester | Bradford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,066 |
1,943 |
831Lowest |
2,827Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
42.7±3.1Lowest about the VT average |
| Fairlee and Worcester 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% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
20.1%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Bradford 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% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±5.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Bradford 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
36.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
0.7%±1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$108,162±$15k 33% above VT |
| Middlesex and Bradford 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 |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$258,600±$30kLowest 18% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,221±$808 about the VT average |
| Middlesex and Bradford 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$4,472 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
27.9%±23.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Bradford 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% VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 3% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
25 min 4% above VT |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
7.7%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Worcester 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 | — | — | — | #45 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Oxbow Unified Union School District #91 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Oxbow Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.