Compare towns
Fairlee vs Reading vs Sharon vs 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 the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
Sharon has the most kids (21% under 18).
Fairlee has the most renters (42.5% rent).
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 | Reading | Sharon | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,066 |
699 |
1,577Highest |
54Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7 30% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
45.6±7.7Lowest 6% above VT |
63.5±7.6Highest 47% above VT |
| Fairlee and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
21%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
0%±52.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sharon and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
37%±54.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee 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 VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
11.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
0%±26.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Fairlee and Reading 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 |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
$21,071±$13kLowest 74% below VT |
| Reading and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
$277,500±$28k 12% below VT |
| Reading and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$1,057±$620Lowest 14% below VT |
| Sharon and Reading 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 |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$5,903Highest 17% above VT |
$3,750Lowest 26% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
100%±55.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Fairlee 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% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
50%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.7% VT: 73.2% |
57.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1942Lowest 34 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 3% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
— |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.5%±30.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Fairlee and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Sharon 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 | 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.