Compare towns

Windham vs Fairfield 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).
Fairfield has the most kids (25.4% under 18).
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.

MeasureWindhamFairfieldTownshend
People
Population
594Lowest
1,938Highest
1,538
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+8.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+4.8%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44.2±7.4
about the VT average
42.3±2.7Lowest
about the VT average
55.6±9.6Highest
29% above VT
Townshend and Windham 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%
25.4%±5Highest
VT: 17.9%
12%±2.6Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Fairfield and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.2%±8.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
14.3%±1.8Lowest
VT: 21.4%
19.3%±6.6
VT: 21.4%
Windham and Townshend 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%
30.2%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
52.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.8%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
3.5%±1.6Highest
VT: 7%
1.4%±0.8
VT: 7%
Fairfield and Townshend 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
$87,019±$22k
7% above VT
$78,750±$29kLowest
3% below VT
Windham and Fairfield 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
$320,600±$22k
about the VT average
$287,200±$79kLowest
9% below VT
Windham and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,056±$441Lowest
14% below VT
$1,074±$80Highest
13% below VT
Townshend and Fairfield 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
$4,816Lowest
4% below VT
$5,364
6% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±94
VT: 48.4%
29.2%±20.4Lowest
VT: 48.4%
72.5%±23.1Highest
VT: 48.4%
Townshend and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.9%Highest
VT: 10.1%
5.1%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.1%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%
VT: 73.2%
88.5%Highest
VT: 73.2%
82.6%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Lowest
6 yrs newer than VT
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
1982Lowest
6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
14% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
25 min
6% above VT
Work from home
20.5%±5.6
VT: 16.9%
7.8%±3Lowest
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
School district — Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A
High school in town — None in town Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
8.1
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.