Compare towns

Panton vs West Fairlee

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Panton has the most people working from home (26.7%).
West Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($237k 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.

MeasurePantonWest Fairlee
People
Population
690Lowest
711Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.6%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-4.8%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
42.7±3.8Lowest
about the VT average
50.3±7.6Highest
17% above VT
West Fairlee and Panton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
24.9%±5.3Highest
VT: 17.9%
13.5%±5.1Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Age 65+
16.7%±2.9Lowest
VT: 21.4%
29.7%±6.7Highest
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
44.6%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.3%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
2.8%±2.3Highest
VT: 7%
West Fairlee and Panton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$86,667±$10kHighest
7% above VT
$76,500±$16kLowest
6% below VT
Panton and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$438,000±$40kHighest
38% above VT
$237,200±$35kLowest
25% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,410±$130Highest
14% above VT
$1,113±$171Lowest
10% below VT
Panton and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,695Highest
33% above VT
$5,210Lowest
3% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
61%±39Highest
VT: 48.4%
50%±89.6Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Panton and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
7.3%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
91.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Lowest
2 yrs older than VT
1978Highest
2 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
11% above VT
28 minHighest
20% above VT
Work from home
26.7%±8.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
5.5%±5.1Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Schools
School district — Rivendell Interstate School District
High school in town — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.