Compare towns
Fairlee vs Sutton vs Whiting 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 oldest population (median age 56.2).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
Whiting has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Fairlee | Sutton | Whiting | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,066 |
790 |
532Lowest |
1,538Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% 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% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Sutton 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% |
21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5% VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Fairlee 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 |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below VT |
$91,250±$38kHighest 12% above VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
| Whiting 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 13% below VT |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
$287,200±$79kHighest 9% below VT |
| Townshend and Whiting 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 |
— | $1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
$1,074±$80Lowest 13% below VT |
| Whiting 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 |
$3,975Lowest 21% below VT |
$4,227 16% below VT |
$5,364 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3 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% |
12.4% VT: 10.1% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
85%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | None 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.