Compare towns
Townshend vs Castleton vs Wardsboro 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%).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Wardsboro has the most homeowners (90.4%).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
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 | Castleton | Wardsboro | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,538 |
4,453Highest |
820Lowest |
1,066 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.6±9.6 29% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
51.6±7.3 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% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Wardsboro 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% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$29kHighest 3% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% 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 | $287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$299,300±$47kHighest 5% below VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
| Wardsboro and Townshend 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 |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
| Wardsboro and Castleton 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 |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,345 14% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±23.1 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58Lowest 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% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
7.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
27 minHighest 14% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | None in town | 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 | 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.