Compare towns
Townshend vs Unity vs Dover vs Rochester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Unity has the highest household income ($88k).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
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 | Unity | Dover | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,538Highest |
1,375Lowest |
1,466 |
1,389 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.6±9.6 43% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
53.5±8.3 38% above U.S. |
53.3±7.6Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Unity and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
10.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.5%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Rochester 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
49% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Townshend 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 about the U.S. average |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$52,313±$7kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$72,676±$8k 10% below U.S. |
| Unity and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $287,200±$79k 14% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$332,900±$55kHighest about the U.S. average |
$253,600±$81kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| 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 24% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$929±$158 34% below U.S. |
| Unity and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,364 72% above U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$4,510 45% above U.S. |
$3,977Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.4%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townshend and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28%±18.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.2%±11.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
40.8%±27.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rochester and Townshend 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 | Unity School District | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| 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 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 4 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.