Compare towns
Fairlee vs Whitingham vs Newfane vs Bridgewater
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%).
Whitingham has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
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 | Whitingham | Newfane | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,066 |
1,368 |
1,456Highest |
980Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7 30% above VT |
46.4±7.1Lowest 8% above VT |
54.4±3.9 26% above VT |
57.1±8Highest 32% 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% |
19.8%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Whitingham and Bridgewater 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% |
31.1%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.2%±0.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Whitingham 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% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8Highest 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±$10kHighest 8% below VT |
$70,625±$11k 13% below VT |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
$70,272±$3k 13% below VT |
| Fairlee and Whitingham 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 |
$262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
$284,200±$49kHighest 10% below VT |
$218,300±$55kLowest 31% 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 |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
$1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
$850±$778 31% below VT |
| Newfane 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 |
$5,055 about the VT average |
$5,174 about the VT average |
$3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3 VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Whitingham 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% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
87.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6 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 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.