Compare towns
Dover vs Cornwall 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
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Cornwall has the most kids (18.7% under 18).
Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
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 | Dover | Cornwall | Fairlee | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
1,208 |
1,066Lowest |
1,538Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
50.4±4.6Lowest 17% 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 | 10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Cornwall and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.9% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Fairlee and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
| Cornwall and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,125±$206Highest 9% below VT |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$1,074±$80 13% below VT |
| Cornwall and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
$6,726Highest 33% above VT |
$5,617 11% above VT |
$5,364 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5 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 | 7.3% VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
24 min 3% above VT |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | 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 | None in town | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.