Compare towns
Dorset vs Townshend vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k median).
Townshend has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
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 | Dorset | Townshend | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092Highest |
1,538 |
594Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Townshend and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Windham and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
52.1% VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Dorset and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
$78,750±$29kLowest 3% below VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
| Dorset and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$287,200±$79kLowest 9% below VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,074±$80Lowest 13% below VT |
— |
| Dorset and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$5,364Lowest 6% above VT |
$5,951 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 8% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
27 minHighest 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | 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 Our Story | 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.