Compare towns

Townshend vs Grafton vs Windham vs Dover

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 most people working from home (28%).
Grafton has the most homeowners (89.9%).
Windham has the most kids (17.5% under 18).
Dover has the shortest commute (22 min average).

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.

MeasureTownshendGraftonWindhamDover
People
Population
1,538Highest
666
594Lowest
1,466
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.8%
VT: +2.8%
-5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
—
+60%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
55.6±9.6
29% above VT
59.2±4.4Highest
37% above VT
44.2±7.4Lowest
about the VT average
53.5±8.3
24% above VT
Grafton and Townshend 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%
5.9%±3.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
17.5%±7.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
10.2%±5.7
VT: 17.9%
Windham 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%
34.2%±2Highest
VT: 21.4%
23.2%±8.1
VT: 21.4%
29.5%±6.2
VT: 21.4%
Grafton and Dover 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%
48.4%
VT: 43.8%
48.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48.9%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.4%±0.8
VT: 7%
7.1%±5Highest
VT: 7%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
2.5%±2.9
VT: 7%
Grafton 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
$76,111±$7k
6% below VT
$94,500±$12kHighest
16% above VT
$52,313±$7kLowest
36% 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±$79kLowest
9% below VT
$343,200±$85k
8% above VT
$353,900±$20kHighest
12% above VT
$332,900±$55k
5% above VT
Windham and Grafton 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
$1,288±$174Highest
4% above VT
—
$670±$49Lowest
46% below VT
Grafton 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
$4,843
4% below VT
$5,951Highest
18% above VT
$4,510Lowest
10% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
72.5%±23.1Highest
VT: 48.4%
53.8%±69.4
VT: 48.4%
41.2%±94
VT: 48.4%
38.1%±17.2Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Townshend and Grafton 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%
4.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
9.9%Highest
VT: 10.1%
7.3%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.6%
VT: 73.2%
89.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
82.9%
VT: 73.2%
81.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
6 yrs newer than VT
1978Lowest
2 yrs newer than VT
1982
6 yrs newer than VT
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
6% above VT
24 min
4% above VT
27 minHighest
14% above VT
22 minLowest
6% below VT
Work from home
28%±18.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
15.8%±5.4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
20.5%±5.6
VT: 16.9%
23.2%±11.1
VT: 16.9%
Townshend and Dover 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 #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A Athens Grafton School District — River Valleys Unified School District #73
High school in town Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School 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.