Compare towns
Fairlee vs Unity vs Newfane vs Bridgewater
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairlee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
Unity has the highest household income ($88k).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
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 | Unity | Newfane | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,066 |
1,375 |
1,456Highest |
980Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7 44% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
54.4±3.9Lowest 40% above U.S. |
57.1±8 47% above U.S. |
| Unity and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.2%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bridgewater and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.2%±0.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 7% below U.S. |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$66,719±$21kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$70,272±$3k 13% below U.S. |
| Unity 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 18% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$284,200±$49kHighest 15% below U.S. |
$218,300±$55kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Newfane and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,083±$242 23% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,266±$238 10% below U.S. |
$850±$778Lowest 40% below U.S. |
| Unity and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,617Highest 80% above U.S. |
$5,394 73% above U.S. |
$5,174 66% above U.S. |
$3,418Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.9%±79.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±39.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.8%±12.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Unity School District | 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 | 4 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.