Compare towns
Townshend vs Bennington vs Windham vs Rochester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townshend has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Bennington has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
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.
| Measure | Townshend | Bennington | Windham | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,538 |
15,249Highest |
594Lowest |
1,389 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.7% VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
| Townshend and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Bennington and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
49% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$72,676±$8k 11% below VT |
| Windham and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
$213,300±$15kLowest 33% below VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$253,600±$81k 20% below VT |
| Windham and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,074±$80 13% below VT |
$1,133±$63Highest 8% below VT |
— | $929±$158Lowest 25% below VT |
| Bennington and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,364 6% above VT |
$4,513 10% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$3,977Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13.2% VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1961Lowest 15 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 28%±18.7 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #58 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | — | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.1Lowest |
14.7Highest |
— | — |
| 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.