Compare towns
Windham vs Middlesex vs Fairfax vs Townshend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
Fairfax has the highest household income ($129k).
Townshend has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
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 | Middlesex | Fairfax | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
1,943 |
5,226Highest |
1,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
38.8±3.3Lowest 10% below VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
| Townshend and Middlesex 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% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Windham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49.5% VT: 43.8% |
52.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6 VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
$78,750±$29kLowest 3% below VT |
| Fairfax and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$378,200±$22kHighest 19% above VT |
$287,200±$79kLowest 9% below VT |
| Fairfax and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,080±$131 12% below VT |
$1,074±$80Lowest 13% below VT |
| Middlesex and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951 18% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,497 9% above VT |
$5,364Lowest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9 VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Fairfax 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.7% VT: 73.2% |
82.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1982Lowest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
25 minLowest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Townshend 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 | — | — | #36 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Fairfax School District | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8Highest |
8.1Lowest |
| 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.