Compare towns
Middlesex vs Fairlee vs Putney vs Westford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Westford has the most expensive homes ($425k 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 | Middlesex | Fairlee | Putney | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
1,066Lowest |
2,622Highest |
2,290 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
44.1±8.6 about the VT average |
| Fairlee and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
52.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
9.5%±4.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$74,760±$10kLowest 8% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$112,750±$12kHighest 39% above VT |
| Westford and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$424,500±$21kHighest 34% above VT |
| Westford and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
| Westford and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,617 11% above VT |
$5,313Lowest 5% above VT |
$6,282 25% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% VT: 10.1% |
14.7% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Rivendell Interstate School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 6 photos → |
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.