Compare towns
Springfield vs Fairlee vs Grafton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springfield has the most expensive homes ($384k median).
Fairlee has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Grafton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
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 | Springfield | Fairlee | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,122 |
1,066Lowest |
1,354Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±8.8 32% above U.S. |
56.2±8.7Highest 44% above U.S. |
43.1±10.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Fairlee and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±8 U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Grafton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fairlee and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,893±$19kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$74,760±$10kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$81,563±$22k about the U.S. average |
| Springfield and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $384,100±$50kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$274,200±$39k 18% below U.S. |
$267,300±$23kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$217 22% below U.S. |
$1,083±$242Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,243±$163Highest 12% below U.S. |
| Grafton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,946Highest 91% above U.S. |
$5,617 80% above U.S. |
$5,239Lowest 68% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.1%±34.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
43 minHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Grafton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Rivendell Interstate School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
U.S. 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.