Compare towns
Townshend vs Westminster vs Grantham vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townshend has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Westminster has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Grantham has the highest household income ($106k).
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 | Westminster | Grantham | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,538 |
2,999 |
3,465Highest |
1,466Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14% U.S.: +7.4% |
+60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.6±9.6Highest 43% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7 38% above U.S. |
50.4±7.5Lowest 30% above U.S. |
53.5±8.3 38% above U.S. |
| Townshend and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Grantham and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±6.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.5%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dover and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Grantham and Westminster 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 |
$71,491±$4k 11% below U.S. |
$106,403±$54kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$52,313±$7kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Grantham 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. |
$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$343,100±$39kHighest 3% above U.S. |
$332,900±$55k about the U.S. average |
| Grantham 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 24% below U.S. |
$916±$126 35% below U.S. |
— | $670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S. |
| Townshend and Westminster 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. |
$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$7,605Highest 144% above U.S. |
$4,510 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
— | 38.1%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townshend and Westminster 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% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 28%±18.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.2%±11.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Townshend and Westminster 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 | #6 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Grantham School District | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.1Lowest |
10.6Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.