Compare towns
Dover vs Montgomery vs Williston 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%).
Montgomery has the oldest housing (typical home built 1980).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k 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 | Williston | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
1,047Lowest |
10,144Highest |
1,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
51.5±11.3 19% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% 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% |
15.5%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston 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% |
21%±3.5 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.8% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
52.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williston and Montgomery 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 |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
| Williston 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 |
$323,200±$45k about the VT average |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$287,200±$79kLowest 9% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$868±$209 30% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,074±$80 13% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510 10% below VT |
$4,326Lowest 14% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$5,364 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 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% VT: 10.1% |
15.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
37 minHighest 58% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 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 | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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.