Compare towns
West Fairlee vs Union vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
West Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
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 | West Fairlee | Union | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 711Lowest |
2,663Highest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.3±7.6 29% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Fairlee and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Union 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 5% below U.S. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $237,200±$35kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$171Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
| Union and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,210 67% above U.S. |
$3,276Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50%±89.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
| West Fairlee and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.5%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.