Compare towns

Dover vs Williston vs Lebanon vs Eliot

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%).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).

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.

MeasureDoverWillistonLebanonEliot
People
Population
33,364Highest
10,144
14,999
7,146Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
45.4±4.5
17% above U.S.
38.9±3.1
about the U.S. average
50.8±5.9Highest
31% above U.S.
Eliot and Williston 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%
20.5%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.6%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
Williston 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%
21%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
21.4%±2.6
U.S.: 17.2%
27.8%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Eliot and Lebanon 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
57.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.2%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.7
U.S.: 6.4%
6.9%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Lebanon 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.
$106,967±$12kHighest
32% above U.S.
$98,147±$10k
22% above U.S.
$101,522±$10k
26% above U.S.
Williston and Eliot 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±$40k
43% above U.S.
$385,400±$29kLowest
16% above U.S.
$498,900±$62kHighest
50% above U.S.
Eliot and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,607±$100Lowest
14% above U.S.
$1,832±$130
30% above U.S.
$1,744±$132
23% above U.S.
$1,948±$471Highest
38% above U.S.
Eliot and Williston 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.
$8,149
161% above U.S.
$4,549Lowest
46% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.6%±6.3
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±17.4
U.S.: 51.1%
41.9%±7.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.1%±20.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Eliot and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
52.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
75.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
51.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minHighest
14% below U.S.
20 min
25% below U.S.
14 minLowest
47% below U.S.
23 min
15% below U.S.
Work from home
18.6%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
22.3%±7.6
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.4%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Lebanon and Williston 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 #29 of 120 in NH #19 of 133 in ME
School district Dover School District Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 Lebanon School District RSU 35/MSAD 35
High school in town Dover Senior High School None in town Lebanon High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.7Highest
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11.7Lowest
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 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.