Compare towns
Windham vs Barre vs Andover vs Townshend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the most kids (17.5% under 18).
Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
Andover has the highest household income ($103k).
Townshend has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
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 | Windham | Barre | Andover | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
8,412Highest |
616 |
1,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
42.2±6.6Lowest about the VT average |
49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
| Townshend and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Windham and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3 VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Windham and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1% VT: 43.8% |
36.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
43.3% VT: 43.8% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
| Barre and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$65,625±$7kLowest 19% below VT |
$102,500±$38kHighest 26% above VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
| Andover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
$382,900±$68kHighest 21% above VT |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
| Andover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,093±$58 11% below VT |
$1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
$1,074±$80Lowest 13% below VT |
| Andover and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$5,192 3% above VT |
$5,190Lowest about the VT average |
$5,364 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1 VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9% VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.8% VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 14% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Townshend 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 | — | #19 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | — | Spaulding Union High School | — | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Highest |
— | 8.1Lowest |
| 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.