Compare towns
Townshend vs Sheldon 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Sheldon | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,538 |
2,267Highest |
1,066Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.6±9.6 29% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below 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%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Fairlee and Sheldon 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 |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$74,760±$10kLowest 8% below VT |
| Townshend and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $287,200±$79kHighest 9% below VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
| Townshend and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,074±$80Lowest 13% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
| Sheldon 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 |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±23.1 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 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 |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
24 minLowest 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Fairlee 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | 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 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.