Compare towns
Townshend vs Worcester vs Dummerston vs Wardsboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townshend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Dummerston has the highest household income ($102k).
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 | Worcester | Dummerston | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,538 |
831 |
2,090Highest |
820Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
45.6±11.7Lowest 6% above VT |
51.6±7.3 20% above VT |
| Townshend and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Wardsboro 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% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wardsboro and Dummerston 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% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1 VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Worcester 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 3% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
| Dummerston 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 |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
| Dummerston and Wardsboro 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 |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
| Wardsboro and Dummerston 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 |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$4,345Lowest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58 VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Dummerston 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 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| 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.