Compare towns
Newfane vs Rochester 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 expensive homes ($284k median).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Fairlee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
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 | Rochester | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,456Highest |
1,389 |
1,066Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9 26% above VT |
53.3±7.6Lowest 24% above 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%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairlee and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Rochester 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% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Fairlee and Newfane 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 |
$72,676±$8k 11% below VT |
$74,760±$10kHighest 8% below VT |
| Fairlee and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,200±$49kHighest 10% below VT |
$253,600±$81kLowest 20% below VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
| Newfane and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
$929±$158Lowest 25% below VT |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
| Newfane and Fairlee 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 |
$3,977Lowest 21% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
14.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 13% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
24 minLowest 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.