Compare towns

Dover vs Waterbury 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%).
Waterbury has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Royalton has the most affordable homes ($263k 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.

MeasureDoverWaterburyRoyalton
People
Population
33,364Highest
5,405
2,752Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
43.2±3.7
11% above U.S.
43.9±10.1Highest
13% above U.S.
Royalton and Waterbury 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%
21.9%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.4%±5.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Waterbury 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%
19.8%±4.4
U.S.: 17.2%
22.1%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Royalton and Waterbury 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%
54.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
42.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.2%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
8%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Royalton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$94,829±$7kLowest
17% above U.S.
$103,917±$23k
29% above U.S.
$103,938±$24kHighest
29% above U.S.
Royalton and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$436,700±$20k
31% above U.S.
$447,200±$40kHighest
34% above U.S.
$263,200±$73kLowest
21% below U.S.
Waterbury and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,607±$100Highest
14% above U.S.
$1,027±$535Lowest
27% below U.S.
$1,040±$391
26% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,249Highest
164% above U.S.
$6,435
106% above U.S.
$4,675Lowest
50% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.6%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.8%±21.7
U.S.: 51.1%
36.7%±16.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Dover and Waterbury 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%
7.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
13%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
52.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
70.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
63.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
14% below U.S.
30 minHighest
14% above U.S.
20 minLowest
23% below U.S.
Work from home
18.6%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
28.3%±6.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.8%±7.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #64 of 120 in NH #20 of 70 in VT #48 of 70 in VT
School district Dover School District Harwood Unified Union School District #60 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 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.