Compare towns
Fairlee vs Poultney vs Stratton 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 the most people working from home (15%).
Poultney has the most renters (43.3% rent).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Bridgewater has the most homeowners (85.4%).
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 | Poultney | Stratton | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,066Highest |
1,033 |
532Lowest |
980 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-33.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7 30% above VT |
28.2±4.5Lowest 35% below VT |
31.5±4.1 27% 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% |
16.8%±5 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Poultney 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% |
21.1%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest 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% |
38.4% VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
22.1%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$70,536±$11k 13% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$196,600±$43kLowest 38% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$218,300±$55k 31% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$868±$113 30% below VT |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
$850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
| Stratton and Fairlee 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 |
$3,450 32% below VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
23.2%±12.4 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Bridgewater 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% |
11.4% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
56.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% above VT |
31 min 33% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Fairlee and Poultney 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 | — | #41 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | — | — | — |
| High school 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.