Compare towns
Fairlee vs Barton vs Newfane vs Townshend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairlee has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Barton has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
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 | Fairlee | Barton | Newfane | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,066 |
730Lowest |
1,456 |
1,538Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
54.4±3.9 26% 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 | 12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5% VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Fairlee and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$66,719±$21k 18% below VT |
$78,750±$29kHighest 3% below VT |
| Townshend and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
$287,200±$79kHighest 9% below VT |
| Townshend and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
$1,074±$80 13% below VT |
| Newfane and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,174 about the VT average |
$5,364 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
58.8%±18.2 VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7Lowest 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 | 14.7% VT: 10.1% |
25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
52.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 3% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Townshend 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 | — | #38 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school 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.