Compare towns
Dover vs Bakersfield vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Bakersfield has the highest household income ($83k).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Bakersfield | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,466 |
1,109Lowest |
2,267Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
46.4±8 8% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
| Dover and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.2% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bakersfield and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$83,462±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
| Bakersfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$271,300±$19kLowest 14% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
| Dover and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,200±$327 about the VT average |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510Highest 10% below VT |
$3,823 24% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
18.8%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Dover and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1982Lowest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
33 minHighest 40% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±7 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.