Compare towns

Fairlee vs Newington 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

Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k 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.

MeasureFairleeNewingtonTownshend
People
Population
1,066
939Lowest
1,538Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
56.2±8.7Highest
44% above U.S.
48.7±10.1Lowest
25% 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
12.2%±4.2
U.S.: 22%
15.7%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
12%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Newington 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
U.S.: 17.2%
28%±11
U.S.: 17.2%
19.3%±6.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Fairlee and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
62.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
52.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
1.4%±0.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Fairlee and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$74,760±$10kLowest
7% below U.S.
$145,833±$46kHighest
81% above U.S.
$78,750±$29k
about the U.S. average
Newington and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$274,200±$39kLowest
18% below U.S.
$861,600±$46kHighest
159% above U.S.
$287,200±$79k
14% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,083±$242
23% below U.S.
$2,292±$795Highest
62% above U.S.
$1,074±$80Lowest
24% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,617
80% above U.S.
$6,081Highest
95% above U.S.
$5,364Lowest
72% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
89.2%±71.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
62.9%±44Lowest
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
14.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
8% below U.S.
23 minLowest
12% below U.S.
25 minHighest
5% below U.S.
Work from home
15%±7.9
U.S.: 15.1%
8%±2.4Lowest
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 Newington 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 Our Story 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.