What stands out worked out from the figures below

West Fairlee has the shortest commute (28 min average).

Whitingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (-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	West Fairlee	Whitingham
People
Population	711Lowest	1,368Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8%	-1%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	50.3±7.6Highest 17% above VT	46.4±7.1Lowest 8% above VT
	West Fairlee and Whitingham 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%	19.8%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9%
	Whitingham and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.7%±6.7Lowest VT: 21.4%	31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4%
	Whitingham 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%Highest VT: 43.8%	32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±2.3Highest VT: 7%	2.2%±1.9Lowest VT: 7%
	West Fairlee and Whitingham 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	$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below VT
	West Fairlee and Whitingham 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	$262,300±$30kHighest 17% below VT
	Whitingham 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	$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,210Highest 3% above VT	$5,055Lowest about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50%±89.6Lowest VT: 48.4%	62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4%
	Whitingham 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%	15.5%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.9%Highest VT: 73.2%	85.2%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT	1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 20% above VT	38 minHighest 62% above VT
Work from home	5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9%	9.7%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9%
	Whitingham 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	Twin Valley Unified School District #75
High school in town	None in town	Twin Valley Middle High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	7.8
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.