Compare towns
Townshend vs Windham vs Middlesex 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 affordable homes ($287k median).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
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 | Windham | Middlesex | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,538 |
594Lowest |
1,943Highest |
1,466 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% VT: +2.8% |
— | +2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
44.4±3.9 3% 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% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex 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% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest 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% |
48.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex 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 |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
| Middlesex and Windham 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 |
— | $1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$5,951 18% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Windham 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% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1982Lowest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 28%±18.7 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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.