Compare towns

Brandon vs Dover vs Eliot

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brandon has the most affordable homes ($228k median).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Eliot has the most expensive homes ($499k median).

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.

MeasureBrandonDoverEliot
People
Population
4,120Lowest
33,364Highest
7,146
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.1±3.1
29% above U.S.
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
50.8±5.9Highest
31% above U.S.
Eliot and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.2%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±1.8
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Brandon and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.3%±4.1
U.S.: 17.2%
16.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.8%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Eliot and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
32.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
52%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.5%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$64,180±$12kLowest
21% below U.S.
$94,829±$7k
17% above U.S.
$101,522±$10kHighest
26% above U.S.
Eliot and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$227,800±$23kLowest
32% below U.S.
$436,700±$20k
31% above U.S.
$498,900±$62kHighest
50% above U.S.
Eliot and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,064±$225Lowest
25% below U.S.
$1,607±$100
14% above U.S.
$1,948±$471Highest
38% above U.S.
Eliot and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,241Lowest
36% above U.S.
$8,249Highest
164% above U.S.
$4,549
46% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.7%±15.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.6%±6.3
U.S.: 51.1%
55.1%±20.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Eliot and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
14.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
52.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1951Lowest
29 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minHighest
10% below U.S.
23 min
14% below U.S.
23 minLowest
15% below U.S.
Work from home
9.9%±5.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.6%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.4%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Dover and Eliot 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 #69 of 70 in VT #64 of 120 in NH #19 of 133 in ME
School district Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 Dover School District RSU 35/MSAD 35
High school in town Otter Valley Union High School Dover Senior High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
9.9Lowest
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.