Compare towns
Andover vs Fairlee vs Townshend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the most expensive homes ($383k median).
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.
| Measure | Andover | Fairlee | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 616Lowest |
1,066 |
1,538Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1Lowest 14% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
55.6±9.6 29% above VT |
| Fairlee and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairlee and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±4.3 VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Fairlee and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,500±$38kHighest 26% above VT |
$74,760±$10kLowest 8% below VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
| Andover and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,900±$68kHighest 21% above VT |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
| Andover and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$1,074±$80Lowest 13% below VT |
| Andover and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,190Lowest about the VT average |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$5,364 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 7% above VT |
24 minLowest 3% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Rivendell Interstate School District | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.