Compare towns
Plainfield vs Newfane vs Fairlee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the most kids (16.3% under 18).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
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 | Plainfield | Newfane | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,314 |
1,456Highest |
1,066Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5Lowest 12% above VT |
54.4±3.9 26% 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 | 16.3%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9 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+ | 48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 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 | $69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
$74,760±$10kHighest 8% below VT |
| Fairlee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
| Plainfield and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
$1,083±$242Lowest 12% below VT |
| Newfane and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806Lowest 5% below VT |
$5,174 about the VT average |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.6% VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 minHighest 13% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Plainfield 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.