What stands out worked out from the figures below

Marlboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+59.7%).

Townshend has the oldest population (median age 55.6).

Marlboro is a college town. 42.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Marlboro	Townshend
People
Population	1,362Lowest	1,538Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+59.7%Highest VT: +2.8%	+4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	22.7±2.1Lowest 47% below VT	55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT
Kids under 18	12%±3.2 VT: 17.9%	12%±2.6 VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	18.8%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4%	19.3%±6.6Highest VT: 21.4%
	Townshend and Marlboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.7%Highest VT: 43.8%	52.1%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	42.7%±4.8Highest VT: 7%	1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,135±$10kLowest 5% below VT	$78,750±$29kHighest 3% below VT
	Townshend and Marlboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$357,300±$55kHighest 13% above VT	$287,200±$79kLowest 9% below VT
	Marlboro and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,600±$824Highest 30% above VT	$1,074±$80Lowest 13% below VT
	Marlboro and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,640Highest 12% above VT	$5,364Lowest 6% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.1%±43.6Lowest VT: 48.4%	72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4%
	Townshend and Marlboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.9%Lowest VT: 10.1%	8.1%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.6%Highest VT: 73.2%	82.6%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest same as VT	1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 26% below VT	25 minHighest 6% above VT
Work from home	26%±11.2Lowest VT: 16.9%	28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9%
	Townshend and Marlboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Marlboro School District	West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A
High school in town	None in town	Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	8.1
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.