Compare towns
Townshend vs Ferrisburgh vs Dover vs Newfane
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).
Ferrisburgh has the most kids (17.2% under 18).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
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 | Ferrisburgh | Dover | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,538 |
2,661Highest |
1,466 |
1,456Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% VT: +2.8% |
-4.6% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
45.5±4.9Lowest 6% above VT |
53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
54.4±3.9 26% 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 | 12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Ferrisburgh and Townshend 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% |
23.3%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9 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+ | 52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
51.1% VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±2.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Ferrisburgh and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
$106,989±$22kHighest 32% above VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$66,719±$21k 18% below VT |
| Ferrisburgh 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 |
$422,700±$35kHighest 34% above VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$284,200±$49kLowest 10% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,074±$80 13% below VT |
$1,435±$173Highest 16% above VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,266±$238 about the VT average |
| Ferrisburgh and Newfane 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 |
$6,120Highest 21% above VT |
$4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,174 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
57%±19.5 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Ferrisburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% VT: 73.2% |
85.3% VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 28%±18.7 VT: 16.9% |
14.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane 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 | — | #7 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Addison Northwest Unified Union School District #54 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | None in town | None in town | 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.