Compare towns

Fairlee vs Sandgate vs West 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 expensive homes ($274k median).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
West Fairlee has the youngest population (median age 50.3).

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.

MeasureFairleeSandgateWest Fairlee
People
Population
1,066Highest
435Lowest
711
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
—
-4.8%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
56.2±8.7Highest
30% above VT
55.7±5.4
29% above VT
50.3±7.6Lowest
17% above VT
Fairlee and Sandgate 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%
13.1%±7.5
VT: 17.9%
13.5%±5.1Highest
VT: 17.9%
West Fairlee and Sandgate 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%
26%±11.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
29.7%±6.7
VT: 21.4%
Fairlee and West 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%
37.8%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
44.6%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±3.7Highest
VT: 7%
2.3%±2.4Lowest
VT: 7%
2.8%±2.3
VT: 7%
Fairlee and West 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
$69,167±$19kLowest
15% below VT
$76,500±$16kHighest
6% below VT
West Fairlee 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
13% below VT
$193,800±$31kLowest
39% below VT
$237,200±$35k
25% below VT
Fairlee and West Fairlee 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
—
$1,113±$171Highest
10% below VT
West Fairlee 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
$2,778Lowest
45% below VT
$5,210
3% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
89.2%±71.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
50%±89.6
VT: 48.4%
Fairlee and West Fairlee 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%
9.7%
VT: 10.1%
7.3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
94.3%Highest
VT: 73.2%
91.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
4 yrs older than VT
1959Lowest
17 yrs older than VT
1978Highest
2 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
3% above VT
27 min
16% above VT
28 minHighest
20% above VT
Work from home
15%±7.9
VT: 16.9%
34.6%±32.4Highest
VT: 16.9%
5.5%±5.1Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Sandgate 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 — Rivendell Interstate School District
High school in town None in town — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.