Compare towns
Windham vs Springfield vs Dorset vs Townshend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k median).
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 | Springfield | Dorset | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
9,084Highest |
2,092 |
1,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
| Townshend and Dorset 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% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Springfield 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%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Springfield and Windham 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% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
52.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
| Dorset and Springfield 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 |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
| Dorset 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 |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,074±$80 13% below VT |
| Dorset and Townshend 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 |
$4,807Lowest 5% below VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$5,364 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Townshend 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% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 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 |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset 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 | — | #64 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | — | Springfield High School | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3Highest |
— | 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.