Compare towns
Dover vs Townshend vs Williston
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%).
Williston has the most kids (20.5% 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 | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,466Lowest |
1,538 |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Williston 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Williston 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 |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above 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 |
$287,200±$79kLowest 9% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,074±$80 13% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,364 6% above VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Williston 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
82.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1982Lowest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Lowest 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| 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.