Compare towns
Vershire vs Townshend vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Vershire has the most affordable homes ($209k median).
Townshend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
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 | Vershire | Townshend | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 842Lowest |
1,538Highest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.7±9.3Lowest 6% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
| Townshend and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Vershire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Vershire and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.1% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Vershire and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,618±$12kLowest 12% below VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,100±$55kLowest 34% below VT |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,117±$80 9% below VT |
$1,074±$80Lowest 13% below VT |
$1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
| Strafford and Vershire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,640Lowest 8% below VT |
$5,364 6% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.8%±24.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Vershire and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 38% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Strafford 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 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | — | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.