Compare towns
Dover vs Calais vs Sheldon vs Townshend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Calais has the highest household income ($101k).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% 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.
| Measure | Dover | Calais | Sheldon | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466Lowest |
1,713 |
2,267Highest |
1,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below 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 | 10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.9% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
| Calais and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
| Calais and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,074±$80 13% below VT |
| Calais and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510 10% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,364 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.