What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fairlee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).

Putnam has the most kids (17.4% under 18).

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	Putnam
People
Population	1,066Highest	540Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	56.2±8.7Highest 44% above U.S.	53.6±6.4Lowest 38% above U.S.
	Fairlee and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	17.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Putnam and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	33.4%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Putnam and 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 U.S.: 35.7%	31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Fairlee and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,760±$10kLowest 7% below U.S.	$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S.
	Putnam 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±$39kHighest 18% below U.S.	$266,200±$48kLowest 20% below U.S.
	Fairlee and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,083±$242 23% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,617Highest 80% above U.S.	$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Fairlee and Putnam 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%	7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 8% below U.S.	21 minLowest 19% below U.S.
Work from home	15%±7.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Fairlee and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Rivendell Interstate School District	PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None 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.