Compare towns
Townshend vs West Fairlee vs Dover
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%).
West Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
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 | West Fairlee | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,538Highest |
711Lowest |
1,466 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% VT: +2.8% |
-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
50.3±7.6Lowest 17% above VT |
53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
| Townshend and Dover 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% |
13.5%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| West Fairlee and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
| West 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% |
44.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| West Fairlee and Dover 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 |
$76,500±$16k 6% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
| Townshend and West 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 |
$237,200±$35kLowest 25% below VT |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above 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 |
$1,113±$171Highest 10% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
| West Fairlee and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,364Highest 6% above VT |
$5,210 3% above VT |
$4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% VT: 73.2% |
91.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| 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 Our Story | 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.