Compare towns
Dover vs Newfane vs Old Bennington 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 the shortest commute (22 min average).
Newfane has the most affordable homes ($284k median).
Old Bennington has the highest household income ($169k).
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 | Newfane | Old Bennington | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
1,456 |
182Lowest |
1,538Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
54.4±3.9 26% above VT |
45±21.3Lowest 4% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
| Townshend and Newfane 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% |
11.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±12Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Old Bennington and Townshend 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% |
29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
30.8%±8Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Old Bennington 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% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
84.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
52.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
0%±7.8Lowest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
| Dover and Newfane 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 |
$66,719±$21k 18% below VT |
$168,750±$53kHighest 108% above VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$284,200±$49kLowest 10% below VT |
$445,500±$105kHighest 41% above VT |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
| Old Bennington 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 |
$1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
$1,063±$1k 14% below VT |
$1,074±$80 13% below VT |
| Newfane and Townshend 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 |
$5,174 about the VT average |
$8,690Highest 72% above VT |
$5,364 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Newfane 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% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5 VT: 16.9% |
46.7%±3.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Old Bennington and Newfane 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 #72A | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school 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 | 6 photos → | 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.