Compare towns
Townshend vs Walpole 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%).
Walpole has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
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 | Walpole | Windham | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,538 |
3,690Highest |
594Lowest |
1,066 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.6±9.6 43% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4 20% 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% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole and Windham 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% |
25.5%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Fairlee and Walpole 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% |
32.9%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% |
4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fairlee and Walpole 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 |
$82,617±$16k about the U.S. average |
$94,500±$12kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$74,760±$10kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Windham and Walpole 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. |
$319,800±$48k 4% below U.S. |
$353,900±$20kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$274,200±$39kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Windham and Walpole 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. |
$1,165±$150Highest 18% below U.S. |
— | $1,083±$242 23% below U.S. |
| Walpole 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. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
$5,951 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% |
51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7% 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% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 28%±18.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.9 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #27 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Fall Mountain Regional 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 | 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.