Compare towns
Middlefield vs Fairlee vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlefield has the most expensive homes ($333k median).
Fairlee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
Chester has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
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 | Middlefield | Fairlee | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 352Lowest |
1,066 |
1,240Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -26.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.9±3.7Highest 46% above U.S. |
56.2±8.7 44% above U.S. |
45.9±3.7Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Middlefield and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 4.5%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
24.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chester and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.7%±8.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Fairlee and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±4.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fairlee and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,750±$23kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$74,760±$10kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$89,390±$6k 11% above U.S. |
| Middlefield and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,800±$48kHighest about the U.S. average |
$274,200±$39kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$281,900±$14k 15% below U.S. |
| Middlefield and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,625±$1kHighest 86% above U.S. |
$1,083±$242Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,104±$71 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,926 58% above U.S. |
$5,617Highest 80% above U.S. |
$4,522Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
89.2%±71.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±22.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Middlefield and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.2%±9.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Fairlee and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Rivendell Interstate School District | Gateway |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.