Compare towns
Newfane vs Middlesex vs Northfield vs Fairlee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Fairlee has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Middlesex | Northfield | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,456 |
1,943 |
5,920Highest |
1,066Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9 26% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
| Fairlee and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,266±$238 about the VT average |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
| Middlesex and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,174 about the VT average |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,878Lowest 3% below VT |
$5,617 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 13% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
24 minLowest 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Middlesex 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 | — | — | #42 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.