Compare towns
Townshend vs Northfield 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%).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
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 | Northfield | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,538 |
5,920Highest |
1,466Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% 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%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Northfield 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% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Northfield 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% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$29kHighest 3% below VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
| Townshend and Northfield 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 |
$274,400±$21kLowest 13% below VT |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
| Dover and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,074±$80Highest 13% below VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
| Townshend and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,364Highest 6% above VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
$4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Northfield 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% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest 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 | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #42 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.1Lowest |
10.0Highest |
— |
| 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.