Compare towns
Townshend vs Strafford vs Dover 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 people working from home (28%).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Dover has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Strafford | Dover | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,538Highest |
1,372 |
1,466 |
594Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
| 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%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.1% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Strafford 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±$29k 3% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
| Strafford and Windham 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 |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,074±$80 13% below VT |
$1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
— |
| Strafford and Townshend 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,951 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Strafford 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% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
27 minHighest 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 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 | Strafford School District | 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.