Compare towns
Townshend vs Mendon vs Dummerston vs Windham
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).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
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 | Mendon | Dummerston | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,538 |
1,113 |
2,090Highest |
594Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Townshend and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston 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% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.1% VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Mendon and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$29kLowest 3% below VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
| Dummerston and Mendon 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 |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
| Mendon and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,074±$80Lowest 13% below VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
— |
| Dummerston and Mendon 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 |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±23.1 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Townshend 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% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
27 minHighest 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Dummerston 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 | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — |
| High school in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | — | 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.