Compare towns

Dover vs Townshend vs Ripton

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 people working from home (28%).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).

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.

MeasureDoverTownshendRipton
People
Population
1,466
1,538Highest
508Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+60%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+4.8%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
53.5±8.3
24% above VT
55.6±9.6Highest
29% above VT
47.7±14.2Lowest
11% 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%±2.6Highest
VT: 17.9%
11.8%±6.3
VT: 17.9%
Townshend and Ripton 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%
19.3%±6.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
30.5%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
Ripton 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%
52.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
48%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.5%±2.9
VT: 7%
1.4%±0.8Lowest
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$52,313±$7kLowest
36% below VT
$78,750±$29k
3% below VT
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
Ripton 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
$394,400±$61kHighest
25% above VT
Ripton 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±$80Highest
13% below VT
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,510Lowest
10% below VT
$5,364Highest
6% above VT
$4,915
about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.1%±17.2Lowest
VT: 48.4%
72.5%±23.1Highest
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100
VT: 48.4%
Townshend and Ripton 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%
VT: 10.1%
8.6%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
82.6%
VT: 73.2%
90.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
1982
6 yrs newer than VT
1973Lowest
3 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
6% below VT
25 minHighest
6% above VT
24 min
about the VT average
Work from home
23.2%±11.1
VT: 16.9%
28%±18.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Townshend and Dover 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 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
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 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.