Compare towns

Fairlee vs Salisbury vs Whiting vs Newfane

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 oldest population (median age 56.2).
Salisbury has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Whiting has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).

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.

MeasureFairleeSalisburyWhitingNewfane
People
Population
1,066
1,200
532Lowest
1,456Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.1%
VT: +2.8%
+7.5%Highest
VT: +2.8%
—
-4.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
56.2±8.7Highest
30% above VT
50.6±6.5
17% above VT
39.6±2.7Lowest
8% below VT
54.4±3.9
26% above VT
Fairlee and Newfane 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%
16.6%±3.2
VT: 17.9%
23.5%±6.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
11.1%±3.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Whiting and Salisbury 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%
30.4%±2.9
VT: 21.4%
13%±5.1Lowest
VT: 21.4%
29.2%±3.9
VT: 21.4%
Fairlee and Salisbury 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%
34.6%
VT: 43.8%
25.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
46.5%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±3.7
VT: 7%
1.6%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
6.2%±4Highest
VT: 7%
2.4%±2.1
VT: 7%
Whiting 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±$10k
8% below VT
$99,688±$21kHighest
23% above VT
$91,250±$38k
12% above VT
$66,719±$21kLowest
18% below VT
Salisbury and Whiting 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
$306,900±$51kHighest
3% below VT
$280,400±$36k
11% below VT
$284,200±$49k
10% below VT
Salisbury and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,083±$242Lowest
12% below VT
$1,443±$984Highest
17% above VT
$1,204±$519
about the VT average
$1,266±$238
about the VT average
Salisbury and Newfane 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
$4,842
4% below VT
$4,227Lowest
16% below VT
$5,174
about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
89.2%±71.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
31.9%±22.6Lowest
VT: 48.4%
58.3%±37.3
VT: 48.4%
51.9%±79.7
VT: 48.4%
Fairlee and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
14.7%Highest
VT: 10.1%
4.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
11.5%
VT: 10.1%
10.9%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%
VT: 73.2%
88.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
65.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
87.2%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
4 yrs older than VT
1967Lowest
9 yrs older than VT
1975Highest
1 yr older than VT
1971
5 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
3% above VT
19 minLowest
20% below VT
22 min
7% below VT
27 minHighest
13% above VT
Work from home
15%±7.9
VT: 16.9%
6%±2.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
10%±5.4
VT: 16.9%
30.8%±12.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
Newfane 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 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 West River Valley Union Education District #72A
High school in town None 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.