Compare towns
Townshend vs Marlboro 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 affordable homes ($287k median).
Marlboro has the youngest population (median age 22.7).
Dover has the most renters (18.9% rent).
Marlboro is a college town. 42.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Marlboro | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,538Highest |
1,362Lowest |
1,466 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+59.7% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
22.7±2.1Lowest 47% below VT |
53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
| Townshend and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12%±2.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±3.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
18.8%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.1% VT: 43.8% |
53.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
42.7%±4.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$29kHighest 3% below VT |
$77,135±$10k 5% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
| Townshend and Marlboro 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 |
$357,300±$55kHighest 13% above VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
| Marlboro and Dover 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 |
$1,600±$824Highest 30% above VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
| Marlboro 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 |
$5,640Highest 12% above VT |
$4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
39.1%±43.6 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Marlboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.9% VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% VT: 73.2% |
84.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 6% above VT |
17 minLowest 26% below VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
26%±11.2 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Marlboro 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 | Marlboro 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 Our Story | 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.