Compare towns
Townshend vs Ware 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Ware has the most kids (19.1% 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 | Ware | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,538 |
10,048Highest |
1,066Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.6±9.6 43% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% 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% |
19.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Ware and Fairlee 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% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fairlee and Ware 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 about the U.S. average |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$74,760±$10k 7% below U.S. |
| 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 14% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28kHighest 13% below U.S. |
$274,200±$39kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Ware 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 24% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,083±$242Highest 23% below U.S. |
| 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 72% above U.S. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$5,617Highest 80% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Lowest 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% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 28%±18.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Townshend and Fairlee 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Ware | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.1Lowest |
11.1Highest |
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| 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.