Compare towns
Windham vs Cavendish vs Fair Haven vs Townshend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
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 | Windham | Cavendish | Fair Haven | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
1,242 |
2,724Highest |
1,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
| Townshend and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fair Haven and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Cavendish and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1% VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
| Cavendish and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
| Windham and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$285,100±$40k 10% below VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
| Windham and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,000±$546 19% below VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
$1,074±$80Highest 13% below VT |
| Townshend and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$3,948 22% below VT |
$3,865Lowest 23% below VT |
$5,364 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9% VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
80.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | — | #66 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8Highest |
8.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 18 photos → | 12 photos → | 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.