Compare towns
Townshend vs West Fairlee vs Newfane
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%).
West Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
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 | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,538Highest |
711Lowest |
1,456 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
50.3±7.6Lowest 17% above VT |
54.4±3.9 26% above VT |
| Townshend and Newfane 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% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest 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% |
29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| West Fairlee and Newfane 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% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| West Fairlee and Newfane 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 |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% 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±$79kHighest 9% below VT |
$237,200±$35kLowest 25% below VT |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
| Townshend and Newfane 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 |
$1,113±$171 10% below VT |
$1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
| Newfane and West Fairlee 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 |
$5,174Lowest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Newfane 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% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
91.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% above VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 28%±18.7 VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Townshend 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| 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.