What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fairlee has the most expensive homes ($274k median).

Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($155k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Fairlee	Plainfield
People
Population	1,066Highest	1,016Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	56.2±8.7Highest 44% above U.S.	34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below U.S.
Kids under 18	12.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	15.6%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Plainfield 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 U.S.: 17.2%	14.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainfield 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 7% below U.S.	$70,673±$6kLowest 12% below U.S.
	Fairlee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$274,200±$39kHighest 18% below U.S.	$155,100±$17kLowest 53% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,083±$242Highest 23% below U.S.	$750±$207Lowest 47% below U.S.
	Fairlee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,617Highest 80% above U.S.	$2,667Lowest 14% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	40.6%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	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%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 8% below U.S.	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	15%±7.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Fairlee 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	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.