Compare towns
Townshend vs Whiting vs Dover vs Newfane
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 oldest population (median age 55.6).
Whiting has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($333k median).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
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 | Whiting | Dover | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,538Highest |
532Lowest |
1,466 |
1,456 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% VT: +2.8% |
— | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
54.4±3.9 26% above VT |
| Townshend and Newfane 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%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Newfane 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% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Whiting 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 |
$91,250±$38kHighest 12% above VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$66,719±$21k 18% below VT |
| Whiting 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 9% below VT |
$280,400±$36kLowest 11% below VT |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$284,200±$49k 10% below 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 |
$1,204±$519 about the VT average |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
| Newfane and Whiting 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 |
$4,227Lowest 16% below VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$5,174 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Whiting 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% |
11.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
87.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
27 minHighest 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 28%±18.7 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane 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 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| 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 |
— | — | — |
| 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.