What stands out worked out from the figures below

West Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 50.3).

Troy has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).

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	Troy
People
Population	711Lowest	1,749Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+3.6%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	50.3±7.6Highest 17% above VT	44.5±5.7Lowest 3% above VT
	West Fairlee and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9%	21.4%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9%
	Troy and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.7%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4%	17.7%±3Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.6%Highest VT: 43.8%	20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±2.3Highest VT: 7%	2.7%±1.4Lowest VT: 7%
	West Fairlee and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$76,500±$16kLowest 6% below VT	$87,938±$11kHighest 8% above VT
	Troy and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$237,200±$35kHighest 25% below VT	$233,200±$21kLowest 26% below VT
	West Fairlee and Troy 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	$646±$323Lowest 48% below VT
	West Fairlee and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,210Highest 3% above VT	$3,644Lowest 28% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50%±89.6Highest VT: 48.4%	30.8%±26.3Lowest VT: 48.4%
	West Fairlee and Troy 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%	8.6%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.9%Highest VT: 73.2%	86.6%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT	1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 20% above VT	24 minLowest about the VT average
Work from home	5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9%	7.8%±2.3Highest VT: 16.9%
	Troy 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	Troy 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.