Compare towns
Newfane vs Fairfield vs Dummerston vs Townshend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Dummerston has the highest household income ($102k).
Townshend has the most renters (17.4% rent).
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 | Newfane | Fairfield | Dummerston | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,456Lowest |
1,938 |
2,090Highest |
1,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9 26% above VT |
42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
| Townshend and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Newfane and Dummerston 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% |
30.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
52.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
| Fairfield and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
$87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
| Dummerston and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,200±$49kLowest 10% below VT |
$320,600±$22k about the VT average |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
| Dummerston and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,266±$238 about the VT average |
$1,056±$441Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,074±$80 13% below VT |
| Dummerston and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,174 about the VT average |
$4,816 4% below VT |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,364Highest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2% VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 13% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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 | 6 photos → | 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.