What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lowell has the most kids (30.7% under 18).

Fairlee has the most people working from home (15%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lowell	Fairlee
People
Population	1,070Highest	1,066Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+1.1%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT	56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT
Kids under 18	30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9%	12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4%	33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8%	46.5%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.9Lowest VT: 7%	5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7%
	Fairlee 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±$15kLowest 29% below VT	$74,760±$10kHighest 8% below VT
	Fairlee 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	$274,200±$39kHighest 13% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$945±$46Lowest 23% below VT	$1,083±$242Highest 12% below VT
	Fairlee and Lowell 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	$5,617Highest 11% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26.3%±92.9Lowest VT: 48.4%	89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4%
	Fairlee and Lowell 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%	14.7%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.1%Highest VT: 73.2%	80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT	1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	55 minHighest 135% above VT	24 minLowest 3% above VT
Work from home	7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9%	15%±7.9Highest VT: 16.9%
	Fairlee and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Lowell School District	Rivendell Interstate School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.