Compare towns
Newfane vs Fairlee vs Dover 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%).
Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Townshend has the highest household income ($79k).
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 | Fairlee | Dover | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,456 |
1,066Lowest |
1,466 |
1,538Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9 26% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
53.5±8.3Lowest 24% above 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 | 11.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairlee and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Dover 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 VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Fairlee and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,719±$21k 18% below VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$78,750±$29kHighest 3% 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 | $284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
| Dover and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,074±$80 13% below VT |
| Newfane and Fairlee 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 |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,364 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest 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 | 10.9% VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 13% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | 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 Our Story | 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.