Compare towns
Dover vs Townshend vs Middlesex
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%).
Townshend has the most affordable homes ($287k median).
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
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 | Townshend | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,466Lowest |
1,538 |
1,943Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% 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% |
12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Middlesex 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex 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 |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$287,200±$79kLowest 9% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Dover 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% |
8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1982Lowest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Townshend 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.1 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.