Compare towns

Barre vs Dover vs Rollinsford

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barre has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Rollinsford has the most homeowners (78.2%).

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.

MeasureBarreDoverRollinsford
People
Population
8,412
33,364Highest
2,626Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-6.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.2±6.6Highest
8% above U.S.
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
38.8±5.5
about the U.S. average
Barre and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
13.5%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±1.8
U.S.: 22%
17.7%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
Rollinsford and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.4%±3.9
U.S.: 17.2%
16.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Rollinsford and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
36.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
52%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
41.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Dover and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$65,625±$7kLowest
19% below U.S.
$94,829±$7kHighest
17% above U.S.
$89,500±$26k
11% above U.S.
Dover and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$210,400±$15kLowest
37% below U.S.
$436,700±$20kHighest
31% above U.S.
$398,100±$33k
20% above U.S.
Dover and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,093±$58Lowest
23% below U.S.
$1,607±$100
14% above U.S.
$1,809±$394Highest
28% above U.S.
Rollinsford and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,192Lowest
66% above U.S.
$8,249Highest
164% above U.S.
$6,851
120% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
34.4%±10.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.6%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
40%±26.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Dover and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
17.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
50.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
52.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
78.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1947Lowest
33 yrs older than U.S.
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1966
14 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
30% below U.S.
23 min
14% below U.S.
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
10.5%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.6%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
25.9%±8.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Rollinsford 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 #19 of 70 in VT #64 of 120 in NH #94 of 120 in NH
School district Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center Dover School District Rollinsford School District
High school in town Spaulding Union High School Dover Senior High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
10.7Lowest
12.7Highest
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.