Compare towns
Dover vs Lenox vs Fairlee 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%).
Lenox has the most expensive homes ($467k median).
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 | Lenox | Fairlee | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
5,079Highest |
1,066Lowest |
1,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Lowest 38% above U.S. |
60.1±4.3Highest 54% above U.S. |
56.2±8.7 44% above U.S. |
55.6±9.6 43% above U.S. |
| Lenox and Fairlee 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% |
13.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
12%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Lenox 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% |
40.1%±7.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lenox and Fairlee 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% |
52.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fairlee and Lenox 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. |
$106,080±$31kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$74,760±$10k 7% below U.S. |
$78,750±$29k about the U.S. average |
| Lenox 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 about the U.S. average |
$466,700±$43kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$274,200±$39kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$287,200±$79k 14% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,091±$238Highest 23% below U.S. |
$1,083±$242 23% below U.S. |
$1,074±$80 24% below U.S. |
| Lenox and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$5,299 70% above U.S. |
$5,617Highest 80% above U.S. |
$5,364 72% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.2%±18.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
89.2%±71.3Highest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.9Lowest 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 | — | #90 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Lenox | 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 | Lenox Memorial High | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.6Lowest |
— | 8.1Highest |
| 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.