Compare towns
Townshend vs Ripton vs Putney 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%).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Putney has the most kids (15.4% under 18).
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 | Ripton | Putney | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,538 |
508Lowest |
2,622Highest |
1,466 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% 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% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Putney and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Putney and Ripton 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 |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $287,200±$79kLowest 9% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
| Ripton and Dover 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 |
— | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$670±$49 46% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,364Highest 6% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Putney 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 6% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest 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 | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.1 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.