Compare towns

Townshend vs Springfield vs Windham 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%).
Springfield has the most homeowners (90.7%).
Windham has the most kids (17.5% 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.

MeasureTownshendSpringfieldWindhamFairlee
People
Population
1,538Highest
1,122
594Lowest
1,066
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+1.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
55.6±9.6
43% above U.S.
51.4±8.8
32% above U.S.
44.2±7.4Lowest
14% above U.S.
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%
15.1%±8
U.S.: 22%
17.5%±7.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.2%±4.2
U.S.: 22%
Windham and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.3%±6.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±1.6
U.S.: 17.2%
23.2%±8.1
U.S.: 17.2%
33.4%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Fairlee and Windham 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
U.S.: 35.7%
36.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
46.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.4%±0.8
U.S.: 6.4%
0%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
0.8%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
5.3%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Fairlee and Townshend 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
$100,893±$19kHighest
25% above U.S.
$94,500±$12k
17% above U.S.
$74,760±$10kLowest
7% below U.S.
Springfield and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$287,200±$79k
14% below U.S.
$384,100±$50kHighest
15% above U.S.
$353,900±$20k
6% above U.S.
$274,200±$39kLowest
18% below U.S.
Springfield and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,074±$80Lowest
24% below U.S.
$1,096±$217Highest
22% below U.S.
—
$1,083±$242
23% below U.S.
Springfield and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,364Lowest
72% above U.S.
$5,946
91% above U.S.
$5,951Highest
91% above U.S.
$5,617
80% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
72.5%±23.1
U.S.: 51.1%
25.9%±64.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.2%±94
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%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
14.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
80.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
5% below U.S.
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
24 minLowest
8% below U.S.
Work from home
28%±18.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.7%±11.6
U.S.: 15.1%
20.5%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
15%±7.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Townshend and Windham 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 — — Rivendell Interstate School District
High school in town Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School — — None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
8.1
— — —
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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.