Compare towns

Whitingham vs Fairlee vs Pawlet

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Whitingham has the youngest population (median age 46.4).
Fairlee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
Pawlet has the most people working from home (20.4%).

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.

MeasureWhitinghamFairleePawlet
People
Population
1,368
1,066Lowest
1,480Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1%
VT: +2.8%
+1.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3.6%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
46.4±7.1Lowest
8% above VT
56.2±8.7Highest
30% above VT
47.9±7.5
11% above VT
Fairlee and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.8%±4.5
VT: 17.9%
12.2%±4.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
20.3%±5.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
Pawlet and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
31.1%±2.3
VT: 21.4%
33.4%±5.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
27.3%±2.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Fairlee and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
32.8%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
46.5%Highest
VT: 43.8%
37.5%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.2%±1.9Lowest
VT: 7%
5.3%±3.7Highest
VT: 7%
4.4%±2.9
VT: 7%
Fairlee and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$70,625±$11k
13% below VT
$74,760±$10kHighest
8% below VT
$62,273±$14kLowest
23% below VT
Fairlee and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$262,300±$30kLowest
17% below VT
$274,200±$39kHighest
13% below VT
$266,200±$44k
16% below VT
Fairlee and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$673±$150Lowest
45% below VT
$1,083±$242
12% below VT
$1,153±$215Highest
7% below VT
Pawlet and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,055
about the VT average
$5,617Highest
11% above VT
$3,924Lowest
22% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62.7%±47.3
VT: 48.4%
89.2%±71.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
42.6%±21.3Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Fairlee and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
15.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
14.7%
VT: 10.1%
10%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.2%
VT: 73.2%
80.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
87.8%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Highest
2 yrs older than VT
1972
4 yrs older than VT
1964Lowest
12 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
38 minHighest
62% above VT
24 minLowest
3% above VT
33 min
40% above VT
Work from home
9.7%±5.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
15%±7.9
VT: 16.9%
20.4%±8.3Highest
VT: 16.9%
Pawlet and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Twin Valley Unified School District #75 Rivendell Interstate School District Mettawee School District #84
High school in town Twin Valley Middle High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
7.8
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.