Compare towns
Dover vs Windham vs Reading vs Townshend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
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 | Windham | Reading | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
594Lowest |
699 |
1,538Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +3.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
51.1±7.6 19% above 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% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Windham 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% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Reading 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% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
| Reading 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 |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
| Windham and Reading 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 |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$287,200±$79kLowest 9% below VT |
| Reading and Windham 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 |
— | $1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
$1,074±$80 13% below VT |
| Reading 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 |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$5,364 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Reading 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% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 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 | ||||
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | 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.