Compare towns

Windham vs Worcester vs Dover 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 kids (17.5% under 18).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Dover has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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.

MeasureWindhamWorcesterDoverTownshend
People
Population
594Lowest
831
1,466
1,538Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-3.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+60%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+4.8%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44.2±7.4Lowest
about the VT average
47±2.7
9% above VT
53.5±8.3
24% above VT
55.6±9.6Highest
29% 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%
12.8%±3.9
VT: 17.9%
10.2%±5.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
12%±2.6
VT: 17.9%
Windham and Worcester 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%
19.5%±2.5
VT: 21.4%
29.5%±6.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
19.3%±6.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Dover 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%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
53%Highest
VT: 43.8%
48.9%
VT: 43.8%
52.1%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.8%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
6.9%±4.7Highest
VT: 7%
2.5%±2.9
VT: 7%
1.4%±0.8
VT: 7%
Worcester 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
$73,833±$18k
9% below VT
$52,313±$7kLowest
36% 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
$271,100±$27kLowest
14% below VT
$332,900±$55k
5% above VT
$287,200±$79k
9% 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 —
$1,023±$136
17% below VT
$670±$49Lowest
46% below VT
$1,074±$80Highest
13% below VT
Townshend and Worcester 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
$4,421Lowest
12% below VT
$4,510
10% below VT
$5,364
6% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±94
VT: 48.4%
25.5%±37Lowest
VT: 48.4%
38.1%±17.2
VT: 48.4%
72.5%±23.1Highest
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%
5.9%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
7.3%
VT: 10.1%
8.1%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%
VT: 73.2%
85.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
81.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
82.6%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
6 yrs newer than VT
1976Lowest
same as VT
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
1982
6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
14% above VT
29 minHighest
22% above VT
22 minLowest
6% below VT
25 min
6% above VT
Work from home
20.5%±5.6Lowest
VT: 16.9%
23.6%±4.8
VT: 16.9%
23.2%±11.1
VT: 16.9%
28%±18.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
Townshend and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 River Valleys Unified School District #73 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.