Compare towns

Windham vs Cavendish vs Dover vs Worcester

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 expensive homes ($354k median).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Dover has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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.

MeasureWindhamCavendishDoverWorcester
People
Population
594Lowest
1,242
1,466Highest
831
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+1.8%
VT: +2.8%
+60%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44.2±7.4Lowest
about the VT average
45.2±5.9
5% above VT
53.5±8.3Highest
24% above VT
47±2.7
9% above VT
Dover and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.5%±7.9
VT: 17.9%
18.3%±4.8Highest
VT: 17.9%
10.2%±5.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
12.8%±3.9
VT: 17.9%
Cavendish and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.2%±8.1
VT: 21.4%
23.6%±2
VT: 21.4%
29.5%±6.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
19.5%±2.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Dover and Cavendish 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%
39.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48.9%
VT: 43.8%
53%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.8%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
4.3%±1.9
VT: 7%
2.5%±2.9
VT: 7%
6.9%±4.7Highest
VT: 7%
Worcester and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$94,500±$12kHighest
16% above VT
$89,063±$29k
10% above VT
$52,313±$7kLowest
36% below VT
$73,833±$18k
9% below VT
Windham and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$353,900±$20kHighest
12% above VT
$285,100±$40k
10% below VT
$332,900±$55k
5% above VT
$271,100±$27kLowest
14% below VT
Windham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,000±$546
19% below VT
$670±$49Lowest
46% below VT
$1,023±$136Highest
17% below VT
Worcester and Cavendish 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
$3,948Lowest
22% below VT
$4,510
10% below VT
$4,421
12% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±94Highest
VT: 48.4%
28.9%±27
VT: 48.4%
38.1%±17.2
VT: 48.4%
25.5%±37Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Windham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.9%Highest
VT: 10.1%
6.3%
VT: 10.1%
7.3%
VT: 10.1%
5.9%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%
VT: 73.2%
81.3%
VT: 73.2%
81.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
85.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
6 yrs newer than VT
1968Lowest
8 yrs older than VT
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
1976
same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
14% above VT
19 minLowest
21% below VT
22 min
6% below VT
29 minHighest
22% above VT
Work from home
20.5%±5.6
VT: 16.9%
18.5%±6.6Lowest
VT: 16.9%
23.2%±11.1
VT: 16.9%
23.6%±4.8Highest
VT: 16.9%
Worcester and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Green Mountain Unified School District #77 River Valleys Unified School District #73 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town — None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 18 photos → 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.