Compare towns
Windham vs Townshend vs Dover vs Chester
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).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
Dover has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k 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 | Townshend | Dover | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
1,538 |
1,466 |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.8% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
| Townshend and Dover 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%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Windham and Chester 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% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Dover 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% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Chester and Dover 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 |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$62,125±$8k 23% 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 |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% 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 | — | $1,074±$80Highest 13% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$960±$44 22% below VT |
| Townshend and Chester 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 |
$5,364 6% above VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Windham 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% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Dover 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 | — | — | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | — | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.1Lowest |
— | 8.7Highest |
| 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.