Compare towns
Townshend vs Plainfield vs Dover vs Wardsboro
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%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 48.1).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Wardsboro has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
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 | Plainfield | Dover | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,538Highest |
1,314 |
1,466 |
820Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
48.1±5.5Lowest 12% above VT |
53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
51.6±7.3 20% 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% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wardsboro and Plainfield 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% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Wardsboro 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% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Dover and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$29kHighest 3% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$62,000±$6k 24% below VT |
| Townshend and Plainfield 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 |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
| Dover and Plainfield 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 |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
| Wardsboro and Plainfield 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 |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$4,345Lowest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±23.1 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield 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% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
90.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
27 minHighest 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1Lowest 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 | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | 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.