Compare towns
Montgomery vs Plainfield vs Townshend vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Montgomery has the most renters (19.3% rent).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 48.1).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
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 | Montgomery | Plainfield | Townshend | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,047Lowest |
1,314 |
1,538Highest |
1,466 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.3 19% above VT |
48.1±5.5Lowest 12% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
53.5±8.3 24% 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 | 15.5%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Montgomery and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.1% VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Montgomery and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,289±$24k 34% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$78,750±$29kHighest 3% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
| Townshend and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $323,200±$45k about the VT average |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$287,200±$79kLowest 9% below VT |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
| Dover and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $868±$209 30% below VT |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
$1,074±$80 13% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
| Plainfield and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,326Lowest 14% below VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$5,364Highest 6% above VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Montgomery and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 58% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
25 min 6% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 16%±5.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | None in town |
| 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.