Compare towns
Fairlee vs Castleton vs Townshend vs Rochester
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 oldest population (median age 56.2).
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Townshend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
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 | Castleton | Townshend | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,066Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,538 |
1,389 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
55.6±9.6 29% above VT |
53.3±7.6 24% 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% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Rochester 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% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$78,750±$29kHighest 3% below VT |
$72,676±$8kLowest 11% 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 |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$287,200±$79kHighest 9% below VT |
$253,600±$81k 20% below VT |
| Townshend and Fairlee 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 |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$1,074±$80 13% below VT |
$929±$158Lowest 25% below VT |
| Castleton 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 |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,364 6% above VT |
$3,977 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1 VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Lowest 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% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.1 |
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| 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.