Compare towns
Dover vs Montgomery vs Springfield 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%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k 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 | Montgomery | Springfield | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
1,047Lowest |
9,084Highest |
1,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
51.5±11.3 19% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
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% |
15.5%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Springfield and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Montgomery and Dover 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% |
52.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Montgomery 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 |
$53,289±$24k 34% below VT |
$66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
$78,750±$29kHighest 3% below VT |
| Townshend and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$323,200±$45k about the VT average |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
| Dover and Montgomery 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 |
$868±$209 30% below VT |
$963±$100 22% below VT |
$1,074±$80Highest 13% below VT |
| Townshend and Springfield 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 |
$4,326Lowest 14% below VT |
$4,807 5% below VT |
$5,364Highest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Montgomery and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
14.8% VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
37 minHighest 58% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Lowest 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #64 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield 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 | Springfield High School | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.3Highest |
8.1Lowest |
| 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.