Compare towns
Fairlee vs Sheldon vs Bridgewater 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
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.
| Measure | Fairlee | Sheldon | Bridgewater | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,066 |
2,267Highest |
980Lowest |
1,456 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.5% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7 30% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
54.4±3.9 26% above VT |
| Bridgewater 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.2%±0.7 VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Bridgewater 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% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40.3% VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater 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 |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$70,272±$3k 13% below VT |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
| Sheldon 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±$39k 13% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT |
$284,200±$49kHighest 10% below VT |
| Newfane and Fairlee 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 |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
$1,266±$238 about the VT average |
| Sheldon 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 |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
$5,174 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1 VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Bridgewater 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 minHighest 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| 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.