Compare towns
Lowell vs Fairlee vs Berkshire
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lowell has the most affordable homes ($183k median).
Fairlee has the most people working from home (23.5%).
Berkshire has the highest household income ($71k).
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 | Lowell | Fairlee | Berkshire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,070 |
54Lowest |
1,745Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -8.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 32.9±6.5 24% below VT |
63.5±7.6Highest 47% above VT |
31.6±6.9Lowest 27% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
0%±52.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
27.2%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Lowell and Berkshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
37%±54.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.8%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Berkshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.2% VT: 43.8% |
11.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
22%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9 VT: 7% |
0%±26.2Lowest VT: 7% |
3.8%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Berkshire and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $57,404±$15k 29% below VT |
$21,071±$13kLowest 74% below VT |
$71,406±$21kHighest 12% below VT |
| Berkshire and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
$277,500±$28kHighest 12% below VT |
$244,600±$26k 23% below VT |
| Fairlee and Berkshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $945±$46Lowest 23% below VT |
$1,057±$620 14% below VT |
$1,525±$267Highest 24% above VT |
| Berkshire and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
$3,750Highest 26% below VT |
$3,545 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.3%±92.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
100%±55.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
57.4%±52.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Berkshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
50%Highest VT: 10.1% |
14.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
57.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
77.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1942Lowest 34 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 55 minHighest 135% above VT |
— | 32 minLowest 37% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.5%±30.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Fairlee and Berkshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Lowell School District | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| 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.