Compare towns
Newfane vs Middlesex 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
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Townshend has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
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 | Newfane | Middlesex | Townshend | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,456Lowest |
1,943Highest |
1,538 |
1,466 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9 26% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
53.5±8.3 24% 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
52.1% VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Dover 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 |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,074±$80 13% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,364 6% above VT |
$4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 13% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Middlesex 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 | 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.



