Compare towns
Townshend vs Plainfield 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%).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Townshend | Plainfield | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,538 |
2,522Highest |
1,066Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.6±9.6 43% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
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% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fairlee and Plainfield 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 |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$74,760±$10kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $287,200±$79k 14% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$274,200±$39kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,074±$80Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,083±$242 23% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,364Lowest 72% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$5,617 80% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest 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% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 28%±18.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Townshend and Plainfield 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Plainfield 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.