Compare towns
Fairlee vs Halifax 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).
Halifax has the most kids (25.4% under 18).
Townshend has the highest household income ($79k).
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 | Halifax | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,066 |
847Lowest |
1,538Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below 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% |
25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.6%±7.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Halifax 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% |
44.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
| 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 | $74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% 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 |
$267,500±$21kLowest 16% below VT |
$287,200±$79kHighest 9% 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±$242Highest 12% below VT |
$875±$154Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,074±$80 13% below VT |
| Fairlee and Townshend 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 |
$4,991Lowest about the VT average |
$5,364 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8Lowest 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 3% above VT |
33 minHighest 38% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | Halifax 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 | 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 |
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.