Compare towns
Windham vs Williston 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
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
Williston has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Williston | Dorset | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
10,144Highest |
2,092 |
1,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
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% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Williston 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% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Windham and Dorset 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% |
54.9% 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% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
| Williston and Dorset 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 |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
$78,750±$29kLowest 3% below VT |
| Dorset and Williston 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 |
$475,800±$40k 50% above VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$287,200±$79kLowest 9% below VT |
| Dorset and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,420±$296 15% above VT |
$1,074±$80Lowest 13% below VT |
| Williston and Dorset 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 |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$5,364Lowest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 14% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
22 min 8% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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 | — | None in town | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.1 |
| 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.