What stands out worked out from the figures below

West Fairlee has the most homeowners (91.9%).

Fairlee has the most people working from home (15%).

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	West Fairlee	Fairlee
People
Population	711Lowest	1,066Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+1.1%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	50.3±7.6Lowest 17% above VT	56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT
	Fairlee and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.5%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9%	12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9%
	West Fairlee and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.7%±6.7Lowest VT: 21.4%	33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4%
	Fairlee and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.6%Lowest VT: 43.8%	46.5%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 7%	5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7%
	Fairlee and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$76,500±$16kHighest 6% below VT	$74,760±$10kLowest 8% below VT
	West Fairlee and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$237,200±$35kLowest 25% below VT	$274,200±$39kHighest 13% below VT
	Fairlee and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,113±$171Highest 10% below VT	$1,083±$242Lowest 12% below VT
	West Fairlee and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,210Lowest 3% above VT	$5,617Highest 11% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50%±89.6Lowest VT: 48.4%	89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4%
	Fairlee and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1%	14.7%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.9%Highest VT: 73.2%	80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT	1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 20% above VT	24 minLowest 3% above VT
Work from home	5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9%	15%±7.9Highest VT: 16.9%
	Fairlee and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Rivendell Interstate 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.