Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Dover vs Townshend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bakersfield has the most homeowners (94%).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
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 | Bakersfield | Dover | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,109Lowest |
1,466 |
1,538Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.4±8Lowest 8% above VT |
53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
| Townshend and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.6%±3.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Bakersfield and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bakersfield and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,462±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
| Bakersfield and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,300±$19kLowest 14% below VT |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
| Dover and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$327Highest about the VT average |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,074±$80 13% below VT |
| Bakersfield and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,823Lowest 24% below VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$5,364Highest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% 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 | 33 minHighest 40% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | None 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.