Compare towns

Dover vs Castleton vs Royalton

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%).
Castleton has the most homeowners (79%).
Royalton has the oldest population (median age 43.9).

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.

MeasureDoverCastletonRoyalton
People
Population
33,364Highest
4,453
2,752Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
38.3±4.3
about the U.S. average
43.9±10.1Highest
13% above U.S.
Royalton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.9%±1.8
U.S.: 22%
18.8%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.4%±5.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Castleton and Dover 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%
20.7%±4.6
U.S.: 17.2%
22.1%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Royalton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
52%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
42.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.2%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
8%±4.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$94,829±$7k
17% above U.S.
$73,854±$23kLowest
9% below U.S.
$103,938±$24kHighest
29% above U.S.
Royalton 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.
$224,800±$71kLowest
32% below U.S.
$263,200±$73k
21% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,607±$100Highest
14% above U.S.
$1,137±$195
20% below U.S.
$1,040±$391Lowest
26% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,249Highest
164% above U.S.
$3,167Lowest
about the U.S. average
$4,675
50% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.6%±6.3
U.S.: 51.1%
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
36.7%±16.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Castleton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
13%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
52.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
79%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
63.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minHighest
14% below U.S.
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
20 min
23% below U.S.
Work from home
18.6%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.8%±7.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Dover and Royalton 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 #39 of 70 in VT #48 of 70 in VT
School district Dover School District Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 White River Unified School District #79
High school in town Dover Senior High School None in town White River Valley High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.7Highest
—
8.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.