What stands out worked out from the figures below

Vernon has the youngest population (median age 42.6).

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	Vernon	Fairlee
People
Population	2,709Highest	1,066Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+1.1%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	42.6±5.4Lowest about the VT average	56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT
	Fairlee and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.1%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9%	12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Vernon and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 21.4%	33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.6%Lowest VT: 43.8%	46.5%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.7Lowest VT: 7%	5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7%
	Fairlee and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,682±$9kHighest 6% above VT	$74,760±$10kLowest 8% below VT
	Vernon and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$285,100±$25kHighest 10% below VT	$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT
	Vernon and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,023±$214Lowest 17% below VT	$1,083±$242Highest 12% below VT
	Fairlee and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,191Lowest 3% above VT	$5,617Highest 11% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 48.4%	89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4%
	Fairlee and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1%	14.7%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2%	80.9%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT	1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 14% below VT	24 minHighest 3% above VT
Work from home	6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9%	15%±7.9Highest VT: 16.9%
	Fairlee and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#30 of 70 in VT	—
School district	Vernon School District	Rivendell Interstate School District
High school in town	None 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.