Compare towns
Newfane vs Montpelier 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%).
Montpelier has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($274k 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 | Newfane | Montpelier | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,456 |
8,014Highest |
1,066Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9 26% above VT |
42.3±2.4Lowest about the VT average |
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% |
17.9%±2.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Montpelier and Fairlee 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% |
24.3%±3.6Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
66.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Fairlee and Montpelier 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 18% below VT |
$81,030±$6kHighest about the VT average |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
| Montpelier and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
$375,100±$21kHighest 18% above VT |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,266±$238 about the VT average |
$1,302±$113Highest 6% above VT |
$1,083±$242Lowest 12% below VT |
| Montpelier and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,174Lowest about the VT average |
$6,936Highest 38% above VT |
$5,617 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±9.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Newfane 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% |
6.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
53.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 13% above VT |
18 minLowest 23% below VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
26.9%±5 VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Montpelier 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 | — | #9 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Montpelier High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.