Compare towns
Dover vs Bellows Falls vs Newfane
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%).
Bellows Falls has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
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.
| Measure | Dover | Bellows Falls | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,466 |
2,891Highest |
1,456Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
41.3±6.7Lowest 4% below VT |
54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
| Newfane and Dover 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% |
22.6%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.7%±5.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Newfane 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% |
27.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
8.2%±4.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| 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 | $52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$56,086±$2k 31% below VT |
$66,719±$21kHighest 18% below VT |
| Newfane and Bellows Falls 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 |
$195,600±$35kLowest 38% below VT |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
| Dover and Newfane 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 |
$1,038±$109 16% below VT |
$1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
| Newfane and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510 10% below VT |
$4,448Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,174Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.9%±16.8 VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Newfane and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
27 minHighest 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Dover 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 | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.