Compare towns
Townshend vs Sheldon vs Athens 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%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Athens has the most affordable homes ($240k median).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($333k median).
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 | Sheldon | Athens | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,538 |
2,267Highest |
431Lowest |
1,466 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
47.3±6.5 10% above 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Athens 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Athens 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% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
4.9%±3Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Athens and Dover 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 |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$68,438±$30k 16% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
| Townshend and Sheldon 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 |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$240,400±$32kLowest 24% 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±$80 13% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,125±$537 9% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
| Sheldon and Athens 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 |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,438Highest 8% above VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Athens 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
36 minHighest 53% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±7.5 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 | ||||
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | 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.