Compare towns
Danville vs Dover vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danville has the most kids (18.9% under 18).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k 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 | Danville | Dover | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,360 |
1,466Lowest |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.1±6 23% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
49.7±4.7Lowest 15% above VT |
| Dover and Danville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Danville and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.7%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Chester and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,946±$7kHighest 13% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$62,125±$8k 23% below VT |
| Danville and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $275,800±$43k 13% below VT |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
| Dover and Danville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$960±$44Highest 22% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,358 14% below VT |
$4,510Highest 10% below VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 9.5%±11.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Dover and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1% VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 39% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.7%±9.5 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Danville 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 | — | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.