Compare towns

Fairlee vs Newfane vs Barnard

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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).

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.

MeasureFairleeNewfaneBarnard
People
Population
1,066Lowest
1,456Highest
1,211
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.1%
VT: +2.8%
-4.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+4.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
56.2±8.7Highest
30% above VT
54.4±3.9
26% above VT
42.4±6Lowest
about the VT average
Fairlee and Newfane 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%
11.1%±3.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
26.9%±5.3Highest
VT: 17.9%
Age 65+
33.4%±5.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
29.2%±3.9
VT: 21.4%
22%±3.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Fairlee and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46.5%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
46.5%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
55.3%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±3.7Highest
VT: 7%
2.4%±2.1Lowest
VT: 7%
2.4%±1.8Lowest
VT: 7%
Fairlee and Newfane 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
$66,719±$21kLowest
18% below VT
$97,581±$19kHighest
20% above VT
Barnard 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
13% below VT
$284,200±$49k
10% below VT
$402,600±$71kHighest
27% above VT
Barnard and Newfane 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
$1,266±$238
about the VT average
$1,372±$80Highest
11% above VT
Barnard and Newfane 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
$5,174Lowest
about the VT average
$6,038Highest
20% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
89.2%±71.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
51.9%±79.7
VT: 48.4%
27%±19.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Fairlee and Newfane 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%
10.9%
VT: 10.1%
2.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
87.2%Highest
VT: 73.2%
85.4%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Highest
4 yrs older than VT
1971Lowest
5 yrs older than VT
1971Lowest
5 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
3% above VT
27 min
13% above VT
29 minHighest
21% above VT
Work from home
15%±7.9Lowest
VT: 16.9%
30.8%±12.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
19.3%±10.8
VT: 16.9%
Newfane and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Rivendell Interstate School District West River Valley Union Education District #72A Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76
High school in town None 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.