Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
No town among the 72 in Vermont we compare has a lower share of working residents who work in town than West Fairlee. Its National Register listings include Asa May House and West Fairlee Center Church. West Fairlee has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Where West Fairlee beats most towns.
Census counts: 391 in 1800, a peak of 1,143 in 1820, 621 in 2020. The archive holds 9 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 3 maps from 1896 on.
5 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who provides power, water and the rest in West Fairlee, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Aug 3, 2026.
Ordered by what stands out in West Fairlee.
Most working residents leave West Fairlee for work: only 1% work in town. West Fairlee’s average trip to work is 28 minutes, above both the Vermont town median (23 minutes) and the median of U.S. towns (25 minutes). The top destinations are Lebanon (17%), Fairlee (12%) and Hartford (10%).
| West Fairlee | Vermont towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 28 minutes | 23 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 7.3% | 9.5% | 9.6% |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Its public schools are run by the Rivendell Interstate School District. Its one school is below.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westshire Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 82 | D |
NCES · EDFacts
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 68% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
West Fairlee has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. West Fairlee’s July high is 80°F, against 80°F in Vermont’s towns and 85°F across U.S. towns.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
People 65 and older are 30% of residents (22% statewide); adults 18 to 34 are 14% of residents (22% statewide). West Fairlee’s median age is 50.3 years. 45% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 44% across Vermont.
| West Fairlee | Vermont towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 14% | 19% | 22% |
| Median age | 50.3 years | 43.7 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 45% | 40% | 29% |
57% women, 43% men
About 76 men for every 100 women (the survey’s margin: ±5.6 points). Across Vermont, 50.4% of residents are women.
| West Fairlee | VT | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 3.2% | 9.1% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 10.3% | 8.8% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 5.8% | 10% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 8.3% | 11.9% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 14.6% | 12.3% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 13.9% | 12% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 14.2% | 14.5% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 18.7% | 13% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 11% | 8.5% | 7% |
| No diploma | 4.7% | 5.1% | 10.4% |
| High school | 32.6% | 26.8% | 26% |
| Some college | 12.9% | 15.8% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 5.2% | 8.6% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 23.9% | 25.2% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 20.7% | 18.6% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 600, single groups can be off by several points
The typical West Fairlee home is worth about $315,000, up 1.5% in a year, 20% below the Vermont typical home. 92% of households own their home in West Fairlee.
| West Fairlee | Vermont towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 92% | 75% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,113 a month | $1,135 a month | $1,185 a month |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
West Fairlee beats the Vermont average on 1 of 31 CDC measures and trails it on 1. 28% of West Fairlee adults sleep under 7 hours. Only 5 of the 72 Vermont towns we compare have a lower share of adults who binge drink than West Fairlee.
| West Fairlee | Vermont towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 30% | 36% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 16% | 17% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 16% | 16% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 11% | 12% | 14% |
| What stands out | West Fairlee | VT |
|---|---|---|
| More adults getting cholesterol checked | 88.1% | 85.9% |
| More adults with arthritis | 31.5% | 27.8% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
| West Fairlee | Vermont towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conserved land | 7.4% | 14% | 4.3% |
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.6 miles per square mile | 0.6 | 0.4 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around West Fairlee. Close and well known come first.
36 mi Ski areaKillington Resort184 runs · 3,031 ft vertical
31 mi Ski areaCannon Mountain104 runs · 2,201 ft vertical
38 mi Ski areaSugarbush Resort142 runs · 2,569 ft vertical
31 mi State parkFranconia Notch State Park
30 mi WaterfallFlume Gorge
30 mi Ski areaLoon Mountain Resort80 runs · 2,189 ft verticalKillington Resort: NHRHS2010, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Cannon Mountain: Mikespenard at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Sugarbush Resort: Mrtrek1701 at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Franconia Notch State Park: Stephen Sokolowski, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Flume Gorge: MyCatIsAChonk, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Loon Mountain Resort: Own work, Public domain
None within 15 miles of West Fairlee; the nearest are
About 3 of every 100 West Fairlee residents are enrolled in college, against 7 across Vermont.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
5 places in West Fairlee on the National Register of Historic Places.
Town in Vermont, United States
West Fairlee is a town in Orange County, Vermont, United States. The population was 621 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
West Fairlee has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
2 notable people were born here, including Eben Pomeroy Colton and Jabez William Clay.
