Compare towns
Windham vs Essex 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 homeowners (82.9%).
Essex has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
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 | Essex | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 594Lowest |
11,516Highest |
1,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +12.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
42.4±1.9Lowest about the VT average |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
| Townshend and Windham 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% |
22.4%±3.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Essex and Windham 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% |
19.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Windham and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
57.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
52.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.2Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
| Essex and Townshend 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 |
$110,199±$14kHighest 36% above VT |
$78,750±$29kLowest 3% below VT |
| Essex 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 |
$447,300±$14kHighest 41% above VT |
$287,200±$79kLowest 9% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,569±$138Highest 27% above VT |
$1,074±$80Lowest 13% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951 18% above VT |
$6,602Highest 31% above VT |
$5,364Lowest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.9%±13.1 VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Essex 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% |
5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1990Highest 14 yrs newer than VT |
1982Lowest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 14% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.5%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Essex 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 | — | #13 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| 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.