Compare towns
Fairlee vs Newfane vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairlee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
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 | Newfane | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,066Lowest |
1,456 |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
54.4±3.9 26% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| 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% |
14.6%±3.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Northfield 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% |
29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,760±$10kHighest 8% below VT |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
| Fairlee and Northfield 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±$49kHighest 10% below VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
| Newfane and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
| Newfane and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$5,174 about the VT average |
$4,878Lowest 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Northfield 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 3% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane 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 | — | — | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.