Compare towns
Andover vs Dover vs Dummerston vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Dover has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Reading has the oldest housing (typical home built 1969).
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 | Andover | Dover | Dummerston | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616Lowest |
1,466 |
2,090Highest |
699 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
45.6±11.7Lowest 6% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
| Dover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.5%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±4.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Reading and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,500±$38kHighest 26% above VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
| Andover and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,900±$68kHighest 21% above VT |
$332,900±$55kLowest 5% above VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
| Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,389±$364 13% above VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
| Dummerston and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,190 about the VT average |
$4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.