Compare towns
Dover vs Brattleboro vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Brattleboro has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
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 | Dover | Brattleboro | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
12,122 |
1,943Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
45.6±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
| Brattleboro and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brattleboro and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$257,300±$18kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
| Dover and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$5,700Lowest 83% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #33 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Dover School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Brattleboro Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
9.0Lowest |
— |
| 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.