Compare towns
Fairlee vs Orwell vs West Fairlee
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%).
Orwell has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
West Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($237k 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 | Orwell | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,066 |
1,294Highest |
711Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
47.5±7Lowest 10% above VT |
50.3±7.6 17% above VT |
| Fairlee and West 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% |
21.8%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell and West 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% |
24%±3.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and West Fairlee 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% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
44.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Fairlee and Orwell 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 |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
$76,500±$16kHighest 6% below VT |
| West Fairlee 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±$39k 13% below VT |
$335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT |
$237,200±$35kLowest 25% below VT |
| Orwell and Fairlee 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 |
$1,105±$51 10% below VT |
$1,113±$171Highest 10% below VT |
| West Fairlee and Orwell 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 |
$3,914Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,210 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9 VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Orwell 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% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.3% VT: 73.2% |
91.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 3% above VT |
27 min 15% above VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Fairlee and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.