Compare towns
Fairlee vs Northfield 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%).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
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 | Northfield | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,066 |
5,920Highest |
980Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7 30% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below 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%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Northfield 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% |
20%±3.8Lowest 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,760±$10kHighest 8% below VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% 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±$39k 13% below VT |
$274,400±$21kHighest 13% below VT |
$218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT |
| Northfield and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,083±$242Highest 12% below VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
$850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
| Fairlee and Northfield 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 |
$4,878 3% below VT |
$3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% above VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Fairlee and Northfield 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 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | — |
| High school 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.