Compare towns
Fairlee vs Newfane vs Plainfield vs Bridgewater
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%).
Plainfield has the most kids (16.3% under 18).
Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($218k 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 | Newfane | Plainfield | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,066 |
1,456Highest |
1,314 |
980Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-3.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7 30% above VT |
54.4±3.9 26% above VT |
48.1±5.5Lowest 12% above VT |
57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
| Bridgewater and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Bridgewater 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% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.2%±0.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Bridgewater 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% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater 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±$10kHighest 8% below VT |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$70,272±$3k 13% below VT |
| Fairlee and Bridgewater 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 |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT |
| Plainfield and Newfane 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 |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
| Newfane and Plainfield 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 |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.7% VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% above VT |
27 minHighest 13% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Plainfield 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 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | — |
| 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.