Compare towns
Dover vs Mendon vs Winhall 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%).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Winhall has the most expensive homes ($472k median).
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 | Mendon | Winhall | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
1,113 |
752Lowest |
1,538Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
+53.7% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
48.9±6.1Lowest 13% 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% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
17%±6.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Winhall and Mendon 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% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±5.3 VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Mendon 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% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
67.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
52.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$95,500±$23k 18% above VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
| Mendon and Winhall 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 |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$471,800±$55kHighest 49% above VT |
$287,200±$79kLowest 9% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$1,094±$732 11% below VT |
$1,074±$80 13% below VT |
| Mendon and Winhall 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 |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$6,567Highest 30% above VT |
$5,364 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.5%±38.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Townshend 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% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
27 minHighest 13% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
18.4%±9Lowest 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 | 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 | — | — | 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.