Compare towns
Townshend vs Benson vs Fairlee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townshend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Benson has the most kids (16.5% under 18).
Fairlee has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Townshend | Benson | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,538Highest |
784Lowest |
1,066 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.6±9.6 29% above VT |
51.9±9.4Lowest 20% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% 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%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Benson and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$29kHighest 3% below VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$74,760±$10kLowest 8% below VT |
| Townshend and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $287,200±$79kHighest 9% below VT |
$242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% 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 | $1,074±$80Lowest 13% below VT |
$1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
| Benson and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,364 6% above VT |
$4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±23.1 VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest 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 | 8.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
24 minLowest 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Benson 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 #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | None in town | 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.