Compare towns
Dover vs Williston vs Stratton vs Townshend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
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 | Williston | Stratton | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
10,144Highest |
532Lowest |
1,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2% VT: +2.8% |
— | +4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% 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% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6 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% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8 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 |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
| Stratton and Williston 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$400,000±$50k 26% above VT |
$287,200±$79kLowest 9% below VT |
| Williston and Stratton 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 |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,074±$80 13% below VT |
| Williston and Stratton 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 |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$5,364 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest 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% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1988 12 yrs newer than VT |
1982Lowest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest 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 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — | 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 | 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.