Compare towns
Windham vs Fairlee vs Townshend vs Brookline
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).
Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
Brookline has the most kids (20% under 18).
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 | Fairlee | Townshend | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
1,066 |
1,538Highest |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
55.6±9.6 29% above VT |
45.1±2.7 5% 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 | 17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Windham 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% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee 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% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Fairlee and Brookline 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 |
$74,760±$10kLowest 8% below VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
| Windham and Brookline 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 |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$1,074±$80Lowest 13% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$5,617 11% above VT |
$5,364 6% above VT |
$5,000Lowest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1 VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 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 | 9.9% VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
24 minLowest 3% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Rivendell Interstate School District | 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 | 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.