Compare towns

Dover vs Townshend vs Marlboro

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 most renters (18.9% rent).
Townshend has the most affordable homes ($287k median).
Marlboro has the youngest population (median age 22.7).
Marlboro is a college town. 42.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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.

MeasureDoverTownshendMarlboro
People
Population
1,466
1,538Highest
1,362Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+60%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+4.8%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+59.7%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
53.5±8.3
24% above VT
55.6±9.6Highest
29% above VT
22.7±2.1Lowest
47% below 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%
12%±2.6Highest
VT: 17.9%
12%±3.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
Age 65+
29.5%±6.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
19.3%±6.6
VT: 21.4%
18.8%±3.7Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Dover and Townshend 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%
52.1%
VT: 43.8%
53.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.5%±2.9
VT: 7%
1.4%±0.8Lowest
VT: 7%
42.7%±4.8Highest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$52,313±$7kLowest
36% below VT
$78,750±$29kHighest
3% below VT
$77,135±$10k
5% below VT
Townshend and Marlboro 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
$287,200±$79kLowest
9% below VT
$357,300±$55kHighest
13% above VT
Marlboro 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
$1,074±$80
13% below VT
$1,600±$824Highest
30% above VT
Marlboro 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
$5,364
6% above VT
$5,640Highest
12% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.1%±17.2Lowest
VT: 48.4%
72.5%±23.1Highest
VT: 48.4%
39.1%±43.6
VT: 48.4%
Townshend and Marlboro 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%
8.1%Highest
VT: 10.1%
7.9%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
82.6%
VT: 73.2%
84.6%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
1982
6 yrs newer than VT
1976Lowest
same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 min
6% below VT
25 minHighest
6% above VT
17 minLowest
26% below VT
Work from home
23.2%±11.1Lowest
VT: 16.9%
28%±18.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
26%±11.2
VT: 16.9%
Townshend and Marlboro 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 Marlboro School District
High school in town None in town Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
8.1
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.