Compare towns
Dover vs Castleton vs Middlesex 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%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
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 | Dover | Castleton | Middlesex | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,943 |
1,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% 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 | 10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Castleton 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% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Castleton 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% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
52.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,074±$80 13% below VT |
| Middlesex and Castleton 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 |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,364 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Castleton 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% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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.