Compare towns
Dover vs Williston vs Bellows Falls
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 the youngest population (median age 36.9).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Bellows Falls has the most affordable homes ($196k 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 | Dover | Williston | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
10,144 |
2,891Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.3±6.7 6% above U.S. |
| Williston and Bellows Falls 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% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bellows Falls and Williston 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% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bellows Falls and Williston 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% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bellows Falls 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±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Williston 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±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$195,600±$35kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Williston and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,038±$109Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Williston and Dover 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. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$4,448Lowest 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.9%±16.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Williston 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Dover School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | — |
| 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.