Compare towns

Newfane vs Dover vs Townshend vs Dummerston

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Townshend has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).

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.

MeasureNewfaneDoverTownshendDummerston
People
Population
1,456Lowest
1,466
1,538
2,090Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+60%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+4.8%
VT: +2.8%
+0.1%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
54.4±3.9
26% above VT
53.5±8.3
24% above VT
55.6±9.6Highest
29% above VT
45.6±11.7Lowest
6% 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
11.1%±3.7
VT: 17.9%
10.2%±5.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
12%±2.6
VT: 17.9%
21.7%±6Highest
VT: 17.9%
Age 65+
29.2%±3.9
VT: 21.4%
29.5%±6.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
19.3%±6.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
24.3%±3
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+
46.5%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48.9%
VT: 43.8%
52.1%
VT: 43.8%
58.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±2.1
VT: 7%
2.5%±2.9Highest
VT: 7%
1.4%±0.8
VT: 7%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
Dover and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$66,719±$21k
18% below VT
$52,313±$7kLowest
36% below VT
$78,750±$29k
3% below VT
$101,696±$21kHighest
25% above VT
Dummerston and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$284,200±$49kLowest
10% below VT
$332,900±$55k
5% above VT
$287,200±$79k
9% below VT
$335,300±$22kHighest
6% above VT
Dummerston and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,266±$238
about the VT average
$670±$49Lowest
46% below VT
$1,074±$80
13% below VT
$1,392±$126Highest
13% above VT
Dummerston and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,174
about the VT average
$4,510Lowest
10% below VT
$5,364Highest
6% above VT
$4,536
10% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.9%±79.7
VT: 48.4%
38.1%±17.2Lowest
VT: 48.4%
72.5%±23.1Highest
VT: 48.4%
44.1%±32.2
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
10.9%Highest
VT: 10.1%
7.3%
VT: 10.1%
8.1%
VT: 10.1%
4.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.2%
VT: 73.2%
81.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
82.6%
VT: 73.2%
92.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Lowest
5 yrs older than VT
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
1982
6 yrs newer than VT
1971Lowest
5 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
13% above VT
22 min
6% below VT
25 min
6% above VT
21 minLowest
11% below VT
Work from home
30.8%±12.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
23.2%±11.1Lowest
VT: 16.9%
28%±18.7
VT: 16.9%
25.9%±10.3
VT: 16.9%
Newfane and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district West River Valley Union Education District #72A River Valleys Unified School District #73 West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
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
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.