Compare towns
Exeter 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
Exeter has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Fairlee has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Townshend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Exeter | Fairlee | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 913Lowest |
1,066 |
1,538Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.7±12.6Lowest 33% above U.S. |
56.2±8.7Highest 44% 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 | 22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
12%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±10.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Fairlee and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fairlee and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,550±$19k 4% below U.S. |
$74,760±$10kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$78,750±$29kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Townshend and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$89kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$274,200±$39k 18% below U.S. |
$287,200±$79kHighest 14% below U.S. |
| Townshend and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,083±$242Highest 23% 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 | $2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$5,617Highest 80% above U.S. |
$5,364 72% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest 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 | 4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±10.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
28%±18.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Townshend and Fairlee 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 History | 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.