Compare towns
Townshend vs Proctor 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%).
Proctor has the most kids (21.8% 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 | Proctor | Dover | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,538 |
1,794Highest |
1,466 |
1,066Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.6±9.6 29% above VT |
42.4±6.4Lowest about the VT average |
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% |
21.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5 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% |
28.1%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% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Fairlee and Proctor 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 |
$74,167±$12k 9% 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 |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% 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 |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% 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 |
$4,032Lowest 20% 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% |
37.3%±16.2Lowest 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% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%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 |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 6% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest 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 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.1Lowest |
8.7Highest |
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| 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.