Compare towns

Fairlee vs Sullivan 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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Sullivan has the highest household income ($107k).
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.

MeasureFairleeSullivanTownshend
People
Population
1,066
687Lowest
1,538Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
56.2±8.7Highest
44% above U.S.
46.6±6.5Lowest
20% 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%
16.3%±5Highest
U.S.: 22%
12%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Sullivan 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%
20.5%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
19.3%±6.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
28.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
52.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
1.4%±0.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Fairlee and Sullivan 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.
$106,667±$20kHighest
32% above U.S.
$78,750±$29k
about the U.S. average
Sullivan 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±$39k
18% below U.S.
$236,500±$29kLowest
29% 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
$1,083±$242
23% below U.S.
$1,225±$275Highest
13% below U.S.
$1,074±$80Lowest
24% below U.S.
Sullivan and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,617Highest
80% above U.S.
$5,099Lowest
63% above U.S.
$5,364
72% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
89.2%±71.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
40%±84.5Lowest
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%
4.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
8% below U.S.
32 minHighest
22% above U.S.
25 min
5% below U.S.
Work from home
15%±7.9
U.S.: 15.1%
4.2%±2.5Lowest
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.