The Town FilesTownshend, Vermont
Town in Windham County · population 1,291 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $287,200
- Household income
- $78,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 130 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 55.6
Townshend is a town of 1,291 people in Windham County, Vermont. The median home is worth $287,200, close to the typical Vermont town ($278,700). It ranks better transit than 95% of Vermont towns, quieter than 85% of Vermont towns, better for young professionals than 75% of Vermont towns.
How Townshend ranks
Percentile among Vermont towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Vermont towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Townshend is worth $287,200, close to the typical Vermont town ($278,700). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $78,750, which is more affordable than 52% of Vermont towns. Median rent is $1,074 a month. 82.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Townshend | Typical Vermont town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $287,200 | $278,700 |
| Median rent | $1,074 | $1,117 |
| Median household income | $78,750 | $76,895 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 3.6× |
| Homeownership | 82.6% | 81.6% |
| Median year built | 1982 | 1976 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 18.1% | — |
Who lives in Townshend
| People | Townshend | Typical Vermont town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 55.6 | 45.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.3% | 22.2% |
| Under 18 | 12.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 52.1% | 38.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.1% | 8.6% |
| Veterans | 4.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.3% | — |
| Work from home | 28.0% | 14.9% |
| Average commute | 25.0 min | 25.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 74.9% | 89.3% |
Weather in Townshend
July highs average 80.7°F and January lows 12.5°F. About 47.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 130.2 inches of snow (typical Vermont town: 84.3 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 163 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Townshend since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Vermont town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on August 20, 1968 about 6.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 21, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 5 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 1, 2011.
Severe weather in Windham County since 1996
Windham County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 8, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3609: Tropical Depression Debby |
| March 2, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4762: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| July 14, 2023 | Flood | DR-4720: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| July 10, 2023 | Flood | EM-3595: Flooding |
| September 29, 2021 | Flood | DR-4621: Severe Storm And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Windham County
Windham County had 20,831 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,758 a year. Unemployment was 2.3% in 2023; in Townshend itself the ACS puts it at 1.8%.
Public schools in Townshend
2 public schools with 337 students, about 9.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | 6-12 | 243 | 9.3 |
| Townshend Village School | PK-5 | 94 | 11.8 |
Towns near Townshend
- Brookline, VT4.6 mi · 540 people · home $290,700
- Newfane, VT6.8 mi · 1,645 people · home $284,200
- Jamaica, VT7.4 mi · 1,005 people · home $347,800
- Wardsboro, VT7.5 mi · 869 people · home $299,300
- Grafton, VT8.4 mi · 645 people · home $343,200
- Westminster, VT8.7 mi · 3,016 people · home $273,800
- Putney, VT9.2 mi · 2,617 people · home $300,000
- Putney, VT10.3 mi · 571 people · home $246,500
Townshend questions
Is Townshend, Vermont a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Townshend scores better for retirees than 70% of Vermont towns and quieter than 85%. 19.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 55.6).
How much does a house cost in Townshend?
The median owner-occupied home in Townshend is valued at $287,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $78,750, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $1,074 a month.
What is the weather like in Townshend?
July highs average 80.7°F and January lows 12.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.0 inches of precipitation a year and 130.2 inches of snow.
Does Townshend get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Townshend since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on August 20, 1968. The typical Vermont town has had 2.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)