Compare towns
Townshend vs Orange vs Dover 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 the most people working from home (28%).
Orange has the most kids (15.6% under 18).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
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 | Orange | Dover | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,538Highest |
957Lowest |
1,466 |
1,066 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.6±9.6 29% above VT |
50.3±5.3Lowest 17% above VT |
53.5±8.3 24% 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%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Orange 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% |
19.4%±4 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest 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% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest 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 |
$71,302±$13k 12% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% 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 |
$222,000±$22kLowest 30% below VT |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% below 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 |
$1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
| Orange and Fairlee 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 |
$3,545Lowest 30% below VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±23.1 VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 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% |
7.6% VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 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 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | 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.