Compare towns
Dover vs Dummerston vs Strafford 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%).
Dummerston has the youngest population (median age 45.6).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Townshend has the most affordable homes ($287k median).
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 | Dummerston | Strafford | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
2,090Highest |
1,372Lowest |
1,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
45.6±11.7Lowest 6% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% 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% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Dummerston 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% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
52.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
| Strafford 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 |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
| Strafford and Dummerston 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 |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$287,200±$79kLowest 9% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,074±$80 13% below VT |
| Dummerston and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$5,364 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Strafford 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% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Dummerston 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 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Strafford School District | 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.