Compare towns
Townshend vs Westminster vs Ripton 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%).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Dover has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Westminster | Ripton | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,538Highest |
497Lowest |
508 |
1,466 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
43.3±11.5Lowest about the VT average |
47.7±14.2 11% 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% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest 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% |
45.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
| Ripton and Westminster 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 |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above 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 |
$749±$315 39% below VT |
— | $670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
| Townshend and Westminster 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 |
$4,480Lowest 11% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,510 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Ripton 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% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% VT: 73.2% |
80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest 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 | — | #53 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 | 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.