Compare towns
Worcester vs Fairlee vs Elmore
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
Elmore has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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 | Worcester | Fairlee | Elmore |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831Lowest |
1,066Highest |
964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
45±3.5Lowest 4% above VT |
| Fairlee and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.4%±9.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Elmore and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
47.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$98,750±$24kHighest 22% above VT |
| Elmore and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$315,800±$47kHighest about the VT average |
| Elmore and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$1,225±$263Highest about the VT average |
| Elmore and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$5,066 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.8%±65.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
24 minLowest 3% above VT |
29 minHighest 25% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Rivendell Interstate School District | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 |
| 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.