Compare towns
Danby vs Dover vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danby has the highest household income ($77k).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Wells has the most affordable homes ($243k 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.
| Measure | Danby | Dover | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,133Lowest |
1,466Highest |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8 22% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
50.7±5.2Lowest 18% above VT |
| Dover and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wells and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8% VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Wells and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,321±$13kHighest 5% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
| Danby and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$41k 14% below VT |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$243,000±$42kLowest 23% below VT |
| Dover and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$166 36% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,543Highest 10% below VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3% VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.