Compare towns
Dover vs Fairlee vs Gorham vs Townshend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k 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 | Fairlee | Gorham | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
1,066Lowest |
2,682Highest |
1,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Lowest 38% above U.S. |
56.2±8.7Highest 44% above U.S. |
53.9±3.6 39% above U.S. |
55.6±9.6 43% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Fairlee and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Fairlee 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 35% below U.S. |
$74,760±$10k 7% below U.S. |
$61,275±$7k 24% below U.S. |
$78,750±$29kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Townshend and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55kHighest about the U.S. average |
$274,200±$39k 18% below U.S. |
$161,600±$49kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$287,200±$79k 14% below U.S. |
| Dover and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,083±$242Highest 23% below U.S. |
$838±$83 41% below U.S. |
$1,074±$80 24% below U.S. |
| Fairlee and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510 45% above U.S. |
$5,617Highest 80% above U.S. |
$4,334Lowest 39% above U.S. |
$5,364 72% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±20.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28%±18.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Townshend and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #57 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Rivendell Interstate School District | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative 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 | Gorham High School | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.0Highest |
8.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.