Compare towns
Newfane vs Lee vs Fairlee vs Brookline
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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 | Newfane | Lee | Fairlee | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,456 |
5,719Highest |
1,066 |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9 40% above U.S. |
55.2±5.8 42% above U.S. |
56.2±8.7Highest 44% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Fairlee and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±5 U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
20%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fairlee and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,719±$21kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$83,750±$13kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$74,760±$10k 7% below U.S. |
$80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
| Lee and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,200±$49k 15% below U.S. |
$352,700±$19kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$274,200±$39kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$290,700±$37k 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,266±$238 10% below U.S. |
$1,375±$212 about the U.S. average |
$1,083±$242Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,174 66% above U.S. |
$3,980Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$5,617Highest 80% above U.S. |
$5,000 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.3%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfane and Brookline 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 | — | #209 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Lee | Rivendell Interstate School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Lee Middle/High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.2 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.