Compare towns
Dover vs Williston vs Townshend vs Newfane
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%).
Williston has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Townshend has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
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 | Townshend | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
10,144Highest |
1,538 |
1,456Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
54.4±3.9 26% above VT |
| Townshend and Newfane 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%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Newfane 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% |
52.1% VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 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±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
$66,719±$21k 18% below 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
$284,200±$49kLowest 10% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,074±$80 13% below VT |
$1,266±$238 about the VT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$5,364 6% above VT |
$5,174 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Newfane 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
87.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
27 minHighest 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7 VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Townshend 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.