Compare towns
Townshend vs Jay vs Fairlee vs Dover
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 highest household income ($79k).
Jay has the most homeowners (97%).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
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 | Jay | Fairlee | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,538Highest |
471Lowest |
1,066 |
1,466 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.6±9.6 29% above VT |
52.1±10.5Lowest 21% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
53.5±8.3 24% 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%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Jay and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 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% |
45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 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±$29kHighest 3% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
| Townshend and Jay 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 |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
| Dover 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 |
— | $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 |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±23.1 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest 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% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Jay 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | 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 | 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.