Compare towns

Windham vs Northfield 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 expensive homes ($354k median).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
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.

MeasureWindhamNorthfieldTownshend
People
Population
594Lowest
5,920Highest
1,538
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-4.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+4.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44.2±7.4
about the VT average
36.4±4.1Lowest
16% below VT
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%±7.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
14.6%±3.7
VT: 17.9%
12%±2.6Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Windham and Northfield 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%
20%±3.8
VT: 21.4%
19.3%±6.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Windham and Northfield 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%
34.6%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
52.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.8%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
15.1%±2.1Highest
VT: 7%
1.4%±0.8
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$94,500±$12kHighest
16% above VT
$71,768±$13kLowest
12% below VT
$78,750±$29k
3% below VT
Windham and Townshend 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
$274,400±$21kLowest
13% below VT
$287,200±$79k
9% below VT
Windham and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,018±$207Lowest
18% below VT
$1,074±$80Highest
13% below VT
Townshend and Northfield 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
$4,878Lowest
3% below VT
$5,364
6% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±94Lowest
VT: 48.4%
63.3%±17.7
VT: 48.4%
72.5%±23.1Highest
VT: 48.4%
Townshend and Northfield 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%
12.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.1%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
73.5%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
82.6%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
1956Lowest
20 yrs older than VT
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
14% above VT
27 minHighest
16% above VT
25 minLowest
6% above VT
Work from home
20.5%±5.6
VT: 16.9%
12.1%±4.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
28%±18.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
Townshend and Windham 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 — #42 of 70 in VT —
School district — Paine Mountain Union School District #68 West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A
High school in town — Northfield Middle/High School Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.0Highest
8.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.