Compare towns
Townshend vs Halifax vs Windham vs Fairlee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has the most kids (25.4% under 18).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
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 | Halifax | Windham | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,538Highest |
847 |
594Lowest |
1,066 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% VT: +2.8% |
+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.6±9.6 29% above VT |
40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
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% |
25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Windham 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% |
22.6%±7.2 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Windham 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% |
44.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Fairlee and Townshend 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 |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below 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 |
$267,500±$21kLowest 16% below VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
| Windham and Townshend 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 |
$875±$154Lowest 29% below VT |
— | $1,083±$242Highest 12% 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 |
$4,991Lowest about the VT average |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$5,617 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±23.1 VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest 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% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% VT: 73.2% |
86.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
33 minHighest 38% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
24 minLowest 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 28%±18.7 VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax 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 #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Halifax 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 | 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.