Compare towns
Windham vs Newfane vs Fairlee vs Brookline
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Fairlee has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Brookline has the most kids (20% under 18).
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 | Windham | Newfane | Fairlee | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
1,456Highest |
1,066 |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
54.4±3.9 26% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
| Fairlee and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Fairlee and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
| Windham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,266±$238 about the VT average |
$1,083±$242Lowest 12% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
| Brookline and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$5,174 about the VT average |
$5,617 11% above VT |
$5,000Lowest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9% VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
24 minLowest 3% above VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Rivendell Interstate School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.