What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).

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	Rochester
People
Population	1,066Lowest	1,389Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.1%Highest VT: +2.8%	-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT	53.3±7.6Lowest 24% above VT
	Fairlee and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.2%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9%	10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Fairlee and Rochester 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%	31.5%±3.1Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Fairlee and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8%	49%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7%	0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,760±$10kHighest 8% below VT	$72,676±$8kLowest 11% below VT
	Fairlee and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$274,200±$39kHighest 13% below VT	$253,600±$81kLowest 20% below VT
	Fairlee and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,083±$242Highest 12% below VT	$929±$158Lowest 25% below VT
	Fairlee and Rochester 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	$3,977Lowest 21% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4%	62.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Fairlee and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.7%Lowest VT: 10.1%	18.5%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%	86.1%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT	1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 3% above VT	27 minHighest 17% above VT
Work from home	15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9%	40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9%
	Rochester and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Rivendell Interstate School District	Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.