Compare towns
Windham vs Bristol 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).
Bristol has the most renters (28.7% rent).
Andover has the highest household income ($103k).
Townshend has the most affordable homes ($287k 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 | Windham | Bristol | Andover | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
3,778Highest |
616 |
1,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
47.9±4.8 11% above VT |
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% |
12.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Windham and Bristol 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% |
21.9%±4.8 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% |
41.9%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% |
5.2%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
| Bristol 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 |
$74,620±$8kLowest 8% 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 |
$337,300±$46k 7% above VT |
$382,900±$68kHighest 21% above VT |
$287,200±$79kLowest 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 | — | $1,275±$181 3% above VT |
$1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
$1,074±$80Lowest 13% below VT |
| Andover and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951 18% above VT |
$5,978Highest 19% above VT |
$5,190Lowest about the VT average |
$5,364 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.9%±14.4 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% |
10.1%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% |
71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.8% VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 14% above VT |
25 minLowest 5% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±6.1Lowest 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 | — | #31 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | — | Mt. Abraham Union High School | — | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
— | 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.