What stands out worked out from the figures below

Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Strafford	Fairlee
People
Population	1,372Highest	1,066Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+1.1%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	51.4±4.7Lowest 19% above VT	56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT
	Fairlee and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9%	12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4%	33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.3%Highest VT: 43.8%	46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.6Lowest VT: 7%	5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7%
	Fairlee and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT	$74,760±$10kLowest 8% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT	$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT	$1,083±$242Lowest 12% below VT
	Strafford and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,149Highest 42% above VT	$5,617Lowest 11% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4%	89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4%
	Fairlee and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1%	14.7%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.9%Highest VT: 73.2%	80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT	1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest about the VT average	24 minHighest 3% above VT
Work from home	16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9%	15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Strafford and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Strafford School District	Rivendell Interstate School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.