Compare towns
Fairlee vs Townshend vs Worcester
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).
Townshend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Worcester has the youngest population (median age 47).
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 | Townshend | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,066 |
1,538Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
55.6±9.6 29% above VT |
47±2.7Lowest 9% 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% |
12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Worcester 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% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.1% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester 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 |
$78,750±$29kHighest 3% below VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% 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 |
$287,200±$79kHighest 9% below VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% 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 |
$1,074±$80 13% below VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% 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 |
$5,364 6% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest 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% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 3% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Worcester 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | None in town |
| 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.