Compare towns

Wilmington vs Middlesex vs Fairlee

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wilmington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.2%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($274k 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.

MeasureWilmingtonMiddlesexFairlee
People
Population
1,747
1,943Highest
1,066Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+20.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+2.8%
VT: +2.8%
+1.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
59.1±4.8Highest
37% above VT
44.4±3.9Lowest
3% above VT
56.2±8.7
30% above VT
Wilmington and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
9.6%±4Lowest
VT: 17.9%
21.3%±3.1Highest
VT: 17.9%
12.2%±4.2
VT: 17.9%
Age 65+
32.6%±7.1
VT: 21.4%
20.6%±3.7Lowest
VT: 21.4%
33.4%±5.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
Fairlee and Wilmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46.8%
VT: 43.8%
54.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
46.5%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.7%±2.2Lowest
VT: 7%
5.2%±2.6
VT: 7%
5.3%±3.7Highest
VT: 7%
Fairlee and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$70,000±$23kLowest
14% below VT
$109,632±$13kHighest
35% above VT
$74,760±$10k
8% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$287,700±$16k
9% below VT
$376,300±$40kHighest
19% above VT
$274,200±$39kLowest
13% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,106±$95
10% below VT
$1,333±$359Highest
8% above VT
$1,083±$242Lowest
12% below VT
Middlesex and Wilmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,299Lowest
5% above VT
$6,483Highest
29% above VT
$5,617
11% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40.3%±23
VT: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
89.2%±71.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
Fairlee and Wilmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.1%
VT: 10.1%
3.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
14.7%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
74%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
96.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
80.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
1 yr older than VT
1986Highest
10 yrs newer than VT
1972Lowest
4 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
9% below VT
27 minHighest
17% above VT
24 min
3% above VT
Work from home
10.8%±6Lowest
VT: 16.9%
28.4%±10.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
15%±7.9
VT: 16.9%
Middlesex 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 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Rivendell Interstate 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

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.