Compare towns

Townshend vs Dunbarton vs Fairlee

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
Dunbarton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($274k median).

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.

MeasureTownshendDunbartonFairlee
People
Population
1,538
3,097Highest
1,066Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
55.6±9.6
43% above U.S.
48±3.7Lowest
23% above U.S.
56.2±8.7Highest
44% above U.S.
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
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.2%±4.2
U.S.: 22%
Dunbarton 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
U.S.: 17.2%
20.4%±4.3
U.S.: 17.2%
33.4%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
52.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
39.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.4%±0.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±2
U.S.: 6.4%
5.3%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Fairlee and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$78,750±$29k
about the U.S. average
$124,348±$21kHighest
54% above U.S.
$74,760±$10kLowest
7% below U.S.
Dunbarton and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$287,200±$79k
14% below U.S.
$484,100±$33kHighest
46% above U.S.
$274,200±$39kLowest
18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,074±$80Lowest
24% below U.S.
$1,166±$70Highest
17% below U.S.
$1,083±$242
23% below U.S.
Dunbarton and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,364Lowest
72% above U.S.
$8,233Highest
164% above U.S.
$5,617
80% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
72.5%±23.1
U.S.: 51.1%
54.7%±60.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
89.2%±71.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
14.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1990Highest
10 yrs newer than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
5% below U.S.
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
24 minLowest
8% below U.S.
Work from home
28%±18.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.6%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
15%±7.9
U.S.: 15.1%
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 — #33 of 120 in NH —
School district West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A Dunbarton School District 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

U.S. 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.