Compare towns
Townshend vs Fairlee vs Dover vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Dover has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Windham has the most kids (17.5% under 18).
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 | Fairlee | Dover | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,538Highest |
1,066 |
1,466 |
594Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 55.6±9.6 29% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Fairlee and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Windham 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% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 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+ | 52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest 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 | $78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
| Windham 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 9% below VT |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
| Windham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,074±$80 13% below VT |
$1,083±$242Highest 12% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
— |
| Fairlee and Townshend 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 |
$5,617 11% above VT |
$4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±23.1 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 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% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
27 minHighest 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Dover 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — |
| 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 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.