What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rumney has the most kids (18.7% under 18).

Townshend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).

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	Rumney	Townshend
People
Population	1,458Lowest	1,538Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.5±2.3Lowest 14% above U.S.	55.6±9.6Highest 43% above U.S.
	Townshend and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.7%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22%	12%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Rumney and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.3%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Rumney and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	52.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,444±$21kHighest about the U.S. average	$78,750±$29kLowest about the U.S. average
	Rumney and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$309,800±$37kHighest 7% below U.S.	$287,200±$79kLowest 14% below U.S.
	Rumney and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,064±$100Lowest 25% below U.S.	$1,074±$80Highest 24% below U.S.
	Townshend and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,716Lowest 51% above U.S.	$5,364Highest 72% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.1%±21.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	72.5%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Townshend and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 24% above U.S.	25 minLowest 5% below U.S.
Work from home	14.4%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	28%±18.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Townshend and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Rumney 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 History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.