Compare towns
Townshend vs Worcester vs 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%).
Worcester has the youngest population (median age 47).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
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 | Worcester | Fairlee | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,538Highest |
831Lowest |
1,066 |
1,466 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.6±9.6 29% above VT |
47±2.7Lowest 9% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
| Fairlee and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Worcester 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 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
| 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% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Fairlee 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 |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
| 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 9% below VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% 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 |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$1,083±$242Highest 12% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
| 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 6% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±23.1 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Worcester 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 | 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 |
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.