Compare towns
Fairlee vs Norwich vs Newfane
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 most affordable homes ($274k median).
Norwich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
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.
| Measure | Fairlee | Norwich | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,066Lowest |
3,640Highest |
1,456 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% below VT |
54.4±3.9 26% above 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% |
24%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
16%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9 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% |
81%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Fairlee and Norwich 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 |
$140,313±$12kHighest 73% above VT |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
$637,500±$76kHighest 101% above VT |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,083±$242Lowest 12% below VT |
$1,460±$322Highest 18% above VT |
$1,266±$238 about the VT average |
| Norwich 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 98% above VT |
$5,174Lowest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 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% |
2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% above VT |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
27 minHighest 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Norwich 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 | — | #1 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | Norwich School District | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| 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.